1. How a bill becomes a law…
The House Version

2. If only it were just this simple

3. House of Representatives -
A bill idea may be introduced by any citizen but only a member of the House may propose legislation. (hopper)

4. Bill is introduced by a member of the House of Representatives.
Step One
Bill is introduced by a member of the House of Representatives.

5. Step Two
Bill is given a number and assigned to a committee to begin the legislation process.
(H.F. - and the number it was received in)

6. Step Three
After the bill has been assigned to a committee, the committee has three options:
A) Kill the bill
B) Send the bill onto the full House for consideration

7. Step Four
Bill is debated on the House Floor if the leadership of the House wants to consider the bill for a full vote. Once that decision is made, the House can
either:
A) defeat the bill
B) pass the bill

8. Fillibuster
Fillibuster- when a senator or house member stops a bill from being passed by getting up and talking non-stop. (today you don’t have to talk to filibuster)
Need 60 votes to break a filibuster.

10. Step Five
The House version of the bill and the Senate version of the bill must be sent to a Conference Committee to revise the bill and then resubmit the bills to both chambers for voting.

11. Step Five (Cont.)
If there are major differences in the two versions of the bill, the bill must go back to the House and the Senate for revisions.

12. Step Six
Revisions are made if needed and then the two houses must vote on the new bill now identical in form for each chambers approval.
In order for a bill to pass, only a simple majority of members present is needed.

13. Step Seven
The bill approved by both houses is now sent onto the President were either:
A) The President signs the bill and it becomes law.
B) The President does not sign the bill and Congress is in session for 10 days and the bill automatically becomes law.

14. OR C) The President vetoes the bill thereby killing the bill process.
D) The President does not sign the bill and Congress is adjourned for 10 days and bill is automatically vetoed and thus, it is dead. (Pocket Veto)

15. If the bill is vetoed, the two chambers have three options:
A) Revise the bill to meet the President’s expectations or desires.
B) Forget about the bill, put in back into the hopper, and try again later or next session.
C) Attempt an override of the President’s Veto.

16. However, any override must have at least a two-thirds majority to be successful.

17. Overrides
Note that overrides are not very common especially if the House and the Senate are of the same political party as the President.
If the House is of a different party than the President, an override attempt is more likely but there may be political ramifications on future bills they submit to the President or the Senate so an override is not very likely.
Overrides are not very common at the federal level.