1. Mr. Rosenstock Government San Fernando High School
How A Bill Becomes A Law
Mr. Rosenstock Government San Fernando High School

2. How a Bill Becomes a Law
The lawmaking process is complicated and only a small fraction of bills introduced to Congress become law.

3. How a Bill Becomes a Law Over 10,000 bills are introduced each year.
Why are so many introduced?
Only a few hundred become law (about 5%).
Why is it easier to defeat legislation than to pass it?
The process is lengthy, sometimes several months long.
Why does it take so long for Congress to pass legislation?

4. Why do so few bills become laws?
1. The process is long and complex.
2. Bills must have strong support.
3. Supporters must be willing to compromise.
4. Many bills are introduced that have no chance of passing.

5. How a Bill Becomes a Law
In this lesson you will learn how the lawmaking process works
First we will look at the different forms new legislation may take
Then you will learn about the steps a bill must go through in order to become a law

6. I. Types of Bills and Resolutions

7. Public Bills
Public bills deal with matters that apply to the entire nation (ex.-taxes, health insurance, gun control, civil rights, abortion).
They are often controversial and may be debated for months

8. Private Bills
Private bills - deal with individual people or places (small % of bills)
They often involve peoples claims against the government or immigration problems
In a recent year only about 230 or 11,824 bills introduced were private bills
Sopuruchi Chukwueke

9. Resolutions
Resolutions cover matters that only affect Congress (ex.-procedures, date for adjournment, etc.)
Because it is an internal matter, it does not have the force of law and is not sent to the president for signature

10. Riders
Riders are provisions attached to a bill on an unrelated subject
Sometimes lawmakers attach many unrelated riders to a bill they think may pass, simply to benefit their constituents

11. II. Introducing a Bill

12. Introducing a Bill
Proposing a New Bill- Various people may write bills: congressmen, their staff, lawyers, a White House staff member, or an interest group. Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill.

13. Introducing a Bill
1. House of Representatives: a representative drops a bill into the “Hopper” – a box hanging on the clerk’s desk
Senate: a senator recognized by the presiding officer introduces the bill on the floor
2. the bill is given a HR # or a S#

14. III. Committee Action

15. Committee Action: Both houses of Congress
After being numbered, new bills are sent to the committees that deal with their subject matter.
Committees may do several things with the bill:
May send the bill to a subcommittee
2. Pigeonhole the bill - ignore the bill and let it die
Hold hearings - listen to testimony from different people interested in the bill (citizens, experts on the topic, etc.)
Recommend the bill be adopted (accepted) as is, or
Make amendments/ changes before reporting - sending it back to the House or Senate floor for further action

16. III. Floor Action

17. Floor Action A bill may start in either house of Congress
Bills must pass both houses of Congress in identical form
When a bill is passed in one house of Congress it is then sent to the other house, unless the other house has a bill on the same topic being considered
First we will look at bills going through the House of Representatives…

18. Floor Action: the House
When a bill is reported out of a committee, it does not go straight to the floor.
The House of Representatives has too many members for unlimited debate, so rules are strict and time is limited.
Bills first go to the Rules Committee: a committee that sets rules about how long representatives may debate a bill and whether they can add amendments.
Probably the most important committee in the House

19. Floor Action: the House
After a bill has been debated and any amendments have been made, the House votes on the bill
If passed, the bill is sent to the Senate

20. Floor Action: the Senate
Because the Senate is smaller:
it is more informal
members may have unlimited debate
may propose amendments that don’t always have to do with the bill
Sometimes to prevent a bill from being voted upon, a senator or senators may engage in a filibuster: where a senator/s attempt to talk the bill to death
A filibuster may be ended if the other senators vote for cloture: three-fifths (60) of the Senate vote to end debate and vote on the bill

21. IV. Conference Committee Action

22. Conference Committee Action
Before going to the President’s desk, a bill must pass both houses of Congress in identical form
If both houses have similar bills or if each house has made amendments to a bill that has come from the other house, a Conference Committee is created
A Conference Committee: is made of senior members from the House and Senate
Members come from the committees where the bill was first sent
The Conference Committee attempts to create a compromise bill that both the House and Senate will accept
The bill then goes to both houses for a final vote. No debate or amendments are allowed

23. V. Presidential Action

24. Presidential Action
The President has several options when a bill comes to him/her:
1.The President may sign the bill or allow the bill to become law without signing in 10 days
2. The President may veto, or reject the bill
The President explains in writing why he/she rejected the bill
The bill is returned to Congress
3. If Congress is not in session (meeting) and the President does not sign the bill, this is called a pocket veto
4. Congress can override: a veto if 2/3 of the members of both chambers approve the bill. If either fails to override, it does not become law

26. VI. Bill Becomes Law

27. Bill Becomes Law
If passed, the bill is then registered with the National Archives and Records Service