1. What is reapportionment? List three expressed Powers of Congress.
Bellwork
What is reapportionment?
List three expressed Powers of Congress.

2. How a Bill Becomes a Law
It all starts “in committee.”

3. How a Bill Becomes a Law 1. Intro of Bill (In House or Senate) House

4. How a Bill Becomes a Law
2. Committee Action – can approve, rewrite, amend, or reject (table) the bill.
Senate Committee
House

5. How a Bill Becomes a Law
3. Floor Action – members debate, amend, and vote on the bill.
Senate Committee
House
Senate Floor
Simple Majority = ½ +1

6. How a Bill Becomes a Law 4. Goes to Other Chamber (House or Senate)
Introduced in the House
House Committee
Senate Committee
Senate Floor
House Floor
Simple Majority = ½ +1
Simple Majority = ½ +1

7. How a Bill Becomes a Law
5. Conference Committee – irons out differences between the two versions.
Introduced in the House
House Committee
Senate Committee
Senate Floor
House Floor
Simple Majority = ½ +1
Simple Majority = ½ +1
Conference Committee

8. How a Bill Becomes a Law
6. The President’s Desk – can sign into law or veto (if it’s vetoed, Congress can override it with a 2/3 vote in each chamber)
Introduced in the House
House Committee
Senate Committee
Senate Floor
House Floor
Simple Majority = ½ +1
Simple Majority = ½ +1
Conference Committee
PRESIDENT

9. Bills Introduced 10,238 Referred to Committee 10,178
Reported by Committee ,205
Passed One Chamber ,184
Passed Both Chambers
Passed Into Law
LESS THAN 10% OF Bills proposed get passed

10. Remember This? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxT7QjlvDqM

11. How a bill becomes a law Reading
Questions
Where do ideas for laws come from?
What must happen before a bill can be introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives?
How is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives?
What happens to a bill while it is in committee?
What can happen to a bill if changes are made to its content while it is in committee?
How do members of the U.S. House of Representatives vote on bills?
Who must agree to a bill before it can become a law?
What can Congress do if a bill is vetoed by the President?
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
Why is it important that both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate agree to a bill before it is sent to the President? Why should the President have a say in which bills become laws?
How would a Member’s personal experiences affect the way he or she votes on legislation?
The reading and questions are on a word document on SharePoint

12. Have Students come up with a bill
Students will get into groups of 4.
Each group will come up with a law/bill for the school that they would like to change.
Then each group will present to class.
The class can agree or change the bill to be sent to the President(teacher).
President(teacher) can agree, veto, or change bill.
Then class can revote if President vetoes or changes bill.
You can change this to help students understand the bill/ law process.

13. Bill to Law Cartoon!
You will illustrate the six steps of a bill becoming law. This can a flow-chart or a comic strip, but must include pictures or icons and captions.
Feel free to “amend” the bill throughout the process or make it represent a specific topic.
Steps to Include:
1. Introduction of Bill
2. Committee Action
3. Floor Action
4. Moves to Other Chamber
5. Conference Committee
6. The President’s desk
If you have time in class. I am also making it a word document to make it homework for my advanced classes.

14. Rubric
A caption & short description of each step……………..10pts An image corresponding to each step ………………….10pts Creativity and effort………...10ts

15. Exit Slip
Who do you feel has more power in the legislative process? The President or Congress? Why?