1. How a Bill Becomes a Law Congress in Action
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Congress in Action

3. Step One A Need for Change
Bill definition: a written idea for a law
Only 3% of bills become law
Every bill starts as an idea
Ideas can come from Congress, citizens, White House, interest groups

4. Step Two Introduction of Bill to Congress
House of Representatives
Senate
Has to be introduced by a member of House
Bill is numbered & read:
Example – H458 or HB456
Then is assigned to a committee
Has to be introduced by a member of the Senate
Bill is numbered & read:
Example – S458 or SB458
Then is assigned to a committee

5. Step Three: Congressional Committees
When in Congress, members are placed on committees
Head of Committee = Chairman
Chairmen hold a lot of power and are chosen based on Seniority Rule.
Step Three: Congressional Committees
Research and Discuss

6. Standing Committee 20 in House 16 in Senate Permanent
Every representative in both houses is on 2-4
Has a SPECIFIC topic addressed
20 in House
Agriculture
Appropriations
Budget
Education and Workforce
Ethics
16 in Senate
Agriculture, nutrition, and forestry
Armed Services
Energy and Natural Resources
Foreign Relations

7. Subcommittee House Examples Senate Example
Agriculture: Department operations, oversight and nutrition
Senate Example
Aviation Operations, Safety and Security
Each committee has these for specific topics
Further research

8. Select or special committee
Special Purpose
Limited Time
One house only
Head investigations as a part of legislative oversight
House Examples
Energy Independence and Global Warming
National Security
Senate Examples
Ethics
Intelligence
Aging

9. Joint committee Examples Permanent Members of BOTH houses
More efficient because looking at topics that both houses would have looked at anyways
Examples
Economic
Library
Printing
Taxation
Deficit Reduction

10. Conference committee Example Special Purpose Limited time
Stimulus Bill: Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Special Purpose
Limited time
Reconcile differences between versions of bill passed in each house
Can rewrite and amend then send back to floor of both houses for vote

11. Step Three Research and Discuss
House of Representatives
Senate
Subcommittee
Performs studies, holds hearings, makes revisions, then MAY approve bill
Committee
May amend or rewrite bill, kill bill, or approve and send to full house
Rules Committee
A “rule” is how much and what kind of debate bill gets on floor of full house
Subcommittee
Performs studies, holds hearings, makes revisions, then MAY approve bill
Committee
May amend or rewrite bill, kill bill, or approve and send to full house
Leadership
Senate leaders of both parties schedule Senate debate on bill

12. House of Representatives
Step four Floor Action
House of Representatives
Senate
Bill debated by full House
Debates much more strict and limited
Amendments may be offered
Vote taken
If different version than approved by Senate, bill sent to conference committee
Bill is debated by full Senate
Filibuster – talk all you want
Cloture – get enough votes to end filibuster
Amendments may be offered
Vote taken
If different version than approved by House, bill sent to conference committee

13. House of Representatives
Step five Full Vote
House of Representatives
Senate
Full House votes on compromised bill by conference committee
If passes, bill sent to President
Full Senate votes on compromised bill by conference committee
If passes, bill sent to President
“most deliberative body in the world” – should be able to talk as much as want
Cloture:
Filibuster:

14. Step six President Sign bill into law
Veto bill – bill is sent back to Congress and no law created
Pocket veto the bill – bill is not signed or returned to Congress in 10 days because Congress not in session
Veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in BOTH houses of Congress