1. Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law

3. Introduction
Ideas for bills come from citizens, President, members of Congress, or special-interest groups
Bills may only be introduced/sponsored by a member of Congress.
Appropriations bills must start in the House.
Bills are drafted and given a number and dropped in a hopper - box into which a proposed legislative bill is dropped and thereby officially introduced

4. Committee Action Bill is sent to the appropriate standing committee.
May also be sent to subcommittee
Committees research, revise, and debate bills
Choices:
Reject it immediately
Pigeonhole it
Approve it

5. Floor Debate Bill debated in the house that introduced it.
Very strict rules for debate in the House of Representatives.
Fewer rules for debate
in the Senate.
Filibuster -prolonged speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action
Cloture - a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.
If approved, the bill goes to the other house for approval.

6. Conference Committee
Joint committee made up of members from both houses.
Job: Create a compromised version of revised bills.
Both houses must agree on changes.
Conference committee: members of both houses revising the bill

7. Presidential Action Approval: Sign bill into law
Bill becomes law without signature
Keeps bill for 10 days, Congress IN session
Rejection:
Veto – Stop a bill from
becoming law
Pocket veto
Keeps bill for 10 days, Congress NOT in session