1. How a Bill Becomes a Law

2. How Does a Bill Become a Law (conventional Model)
See page 285
A Member introduces the bill
A subcommittee and committee craft the bill
Floor action on bill takes place in first chamber
Floor Action = debate, amendments, filibuster (Senate Only) and final vote
Committee and floor action in second chamber

3. How a Bill Becomes a Law? Conference committee if Bills are different
Vote on conference committee bill
President Signs or Vetoes
If vetoes a 2/3 override vote is necessary

4. What are the four types of legislation (pg. 281)
Bill
Simple Resolution
Concurrent R
Joint Resolution

5. 3) What are some of the important deviations from the conventional process? (283)

6. Deviations from Conventional Process
See page 286
20 % of major bill bypass the committee system
1/3 of bills are adjusted post committee
Summit meeting between congress and the president may bypass or jump start committee action
Omnibus Legislation- Huge bills that cover many different subject, topics and often contain pork barrel projects

7. What is the Difference between the House and Senate?
What type of bills must start in the House?
What powers are unique to the Senate?

8. The Senate Can Filibuster!
Mr. Smith’s Filibuster
The filibuster-is a blocking technique in which the Senate can block legislation by speaking indefinitely
The Senate does not allow debate to be shut down with out cloture
Cloture requires a vote of 60/100 Senators
History of the filibuster

9. Senate Vs. House (3 central differences
Continuity of membership has an impact on bills n the Senate
2/3ds of Senators are returning each turn providing greater stability of rules
The Process of getting a bill to the floor is much more complicated in the House
Open debate in the house vs. Rules Committee deciding the debate and amendment (closed, open, modified) rules for each bill with floor managers enforcing (generally five min. debate)

10. What is the general role of Congressional oversight
What is the general role of Congressional oversight? (286) 7) What are the specific mechanisms of this oversight power? ( )

11. Oversight Power
Power of the Purse

12. Oversight Power
Hearings and Investigations

13. Oversight
Legislative Vetos

14. Senate Oversight
Treaties require Advice and consent of the Senate (2/3’s)
Presidential Nominations require “advice and consent” (majority but 41 can filibuster)

15. Ultimate Power Impeachment
House Impeaches
Senate Tries the official