1. The Legislative Process Chapter 12 – how a bill becomes law

2. How a Bill grows up and becomes a Law…
3 ways…
The Hard Way!
The Fun Way!
The School House Rock Way!

3. House Bill Introduced Rider attached
Senate Bill Introduced Rider attached
1st reading, given a number
Committee Action
Hearings
Investigation
Voted out of sub- committee….
Referred to Committee
Referred to Committee
Stop
Stop
Referred to Sub Committee
Referred to Sub Committee
Stop
Pigeonhole
Amend or add to
Approve and submit to floor debate -- “do pass”
Stop
Reported to Full Committee—3 Actions
Reported to Full Committee
Stop
Floor Action Debate and vote..
Filibuster or Cloture
If passes, either goes to the House or the President
Rules Committee Action
Stop
House Rules Committee sets limits on debate.
Stop
Floor Action Debate and vote
If passes, either goes to the Senate or President
Stop
Stop
2nd reading
Bill must pass both Houses with same language… If not, goes to Conference Committee.
House Approval
Senate Approval
President’s Action
Stop
Stop
Veto
Signed into law

4. The SHR Way…

6. Introduction SENATE HOUSE
Bill introduced and given to Majority Leader f
Current President Pro Tempore: Patrick Leahy(D)
HOUSE
Bill introduced and given to Speaker of the House
Current Speaker: John Boehner(R)

7. Committee Action HOUSE SENATE d
Bill referred to standing committee d To subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, approval
Back to full committee for more hearings & revisions
To rules committee to set conditions for debate / amendments
SENATE d
Bill referred to standing committee To subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, approval
Back to full committee for more hearings/revisions

8. Floor Action Bill debated, then passed or defeated
HOUSE
Bill debated, then passed or defeated
If passed, bill goes to Senate
SENATE d
Bill debated, then passed or defeated
If passed, bill goes to House

9. Conference Committee
Resolves differences between House and Senate versions of bill * need an identical bill

10. Congressional Approval Committee
House and Senate vote on final passage
Approved bill sent to President

11. President signs, or allows bill to become law without signing.
Presidential Action
President signs, or allows bill to become law without signing. OR
Vetoes…

12. Presidential Action Veto – President takes action
Pocket Veto – President doesn’t take action in last 10 days in Congress and bill dies.

13. Presidential Action
…Vetoed bills return to Congress 2/3 vote of each house will override veto

14. The Hard Way! – One more time…
Once bills are introduced on the floor, they are given numbers (ex. HR 132)
Then bills are assigned to committees to be heard, discussed, researched, and debated, then voted on.
A bill will be assigned to a Standing Committee (permanent committee that discusses bills – P ex. House Agriculture Committee )to be heard.
Once in a Standing Committee it is referred to a Sub Committee ( a specialized committee under the Standing committee – P340 ex. House Livestock Sub committee).
If the bill passes out of the Standing Committee (only about 10%), it goes to the floor for a vote.
If it passes it goes to the other house.
If it passes out of the other house, it will go to a Conference Committee to work out differences.
Finally it will go to the president for his action.

15. FYI Additional notes to add to your graphic organizer
As many as 10,000 measures are introduced in the House and Senate during a term of Congress.
Fewer than 10% ever become law
“Bipartisanship” : support for a bill from members of both the Democrats and Republicans.
Committee Chairmen are chosen by the majority party based on seniority.