1. 7.1 NOTES
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

2. OBJECTIVES
Create a graphic organizer which demonstrates the process through which a bill becomes a law.

3. TYPES OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Of the thousands of bills passed each session, only a few hundred become law.
Private bills- deal with individual people or places. Public bills deal with general matters and apply to the entire nation.
Resolutions may be passed by either house or by both houses jointly.
Simple resolutions- cover matters affecting only one house of Congress and is passed by that house alone.
Joint resolutions- Passed in the same form by both houses; signed by Pres.; it has the force of law.
Concurrent resolutions- Cover matters requiring the actions of both houses but on which a law is not needed. EG- adjournment of Congress.

4. Earmarks are a way that members of Congress can specify that some part of a funding bill will go towards a specific purpose.
Riders are provisions on a subject rather than the one covered by the bill. Lawmakers often attach them to bills that are likely to pass.

5. Fewer than 10% of all bills introduced in Congress become public laws
Fewer than 10% of all bills introduced in Congress become public laws. Why?
Creating a law is a long and complicated process that sometimes requires more than 100 steps. It can be killed, amended, or delayed at many points.
Because there are so many steps, a bill’s sponsors must be willing to compromise.
Members introduce many bills knowing that they have no chance of becoming law. They do this as a symbolic gesture to appease their constituents.

6. INTRODUCING A BILL
The Constitution sets forth only a few of the many steps for a bill to become a law.
The bill must first be introduced in either house. It is then given a HR# or S#. (1st rdg.)
New bills are then sent to committees and subcommittees. They can kill it, rewrite it, amend it, or recommend passing it. “pigeonholing” is when they ignore and let it die.
When committees decide to act on a bill, they hold a hearing, which is an information gathering process.

7. The committee then has a markup session in which they make changes to the bill.
After committee, if the bill was not killed, it gets reported to the house.
They also send a written message stating any changes they made, their opinions, and their recommendation on the bill.

8. FLOOR ACTION
During debate any lawmaker may offer amendments. (2nd reading)
Opponents sometimes propose amendments to slow a bill’s progress or kill it.
The 3rd reading occurs, with all the amendments, and then a vote is taken.
The bill must receive a majority vote of all members present in each house to pass.
If a bill is passed in both houses, but not in identical form, it then goes to a conference committee.
Conference committees work out a compromise bill and send that identical bill to both houses.

9. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION ON BILLS
After a bill passes both houses, it goes to the Pres. He/she may either:
Sign it and the bill becomes law.
Keep it for 10 days without signing it. If Congress is in session during this time, it becomes a law.
Veto, or reject, the bill.
Pocket veto- The Pres refuses to act on a bill for 10 days and the congressional session ends before the 10 days is up.
Congress can override a veto with a 2/3 vote in each house. This rarely happens.

10. FINAL STEPS IN PASSING A BILL
Once a bill is passed, it is registered with the National Archives and Records Service.
Citizens can track legislation using an online information resource called THOMAS.
Other things to know:
Pork-barrel legislation- When congress people appropriate special monies toward their home districts.
Logrolling- When two or more lawmakers agree to support each others bills.