1. Chapter 6, Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

2. Main Idea
Several complex steps are involved from turning a bill into a law!!!

3. I. Types of Bills (198)
A. Of the more than 10,000 bills introduced each term, only several hundred become a law.
B. Two types of Bills:
1. Private Bill- bills that concern only certain individuals or places
2. Public Bill- Apply to the entire nation
such as taxation

4. C. Joint Resolutions- resolutions passed by both houses of Congress
C. Joint Resolutions- resolutions passed by both houses of Congress. Do not usually have the force of law unless signed by the President.
*Used to propose amendments and designate money for a special purpose
II. From Bill to Law ( )
A. Ideas come from Congress, citizens, and the White House.
B. Bills are sometimes introduced by special interest groups
C. Special Interest Group- organization with a common interest who influence the government.

5. D. Bills can only be introduced by a senator or member of the House.
E. Every bill is given a title and a number, then sent to the appropriate standing committee.
S.1
H.R. 1

7. F. Committee chairperson decides whether the bill gets ignored or studied.
G. Standing Committee can do 5 things:
1. Pass bill without change.
2. Make changes and suggest the bill be passed.
3. Replace with alternative bill.
4. Pigeonhole- ignore the bill ‘til it dies
5. Kill bill by majority vote!

8. H. Bills approved in committee are then put on schedules to be heard by the full House or Senate.
I. When bills are introduced, members of Congress debate the pros and cons.
***While the House accepts only relevant amendments, the Senate can add riders.***
J. Riders- completely unrelated amendments tacked onto the bill.

9. K. House rules committee puts time limits on the debates.
***Senators have unlimited time to speak, House members have much less time***
L. Sometimes Senators will buy time with a filibuster.
M. Filibuster- talking the bill to death.
(1964) 74 day filibuster by Republican Senators opposed to the Civil Rights Act

10. N. A 3/5 vote for cloture can kill a filibuster.
O. Types of votes:
1. Voice Vote- Simply, yea or nay (all at once)
2. Standing Vote- Those in favor stand
3. Recorded Vote- Computerized voting system. Votes are recorded electronically. (H of Rep.)
4. Roll-Call Vote- Senators names are called one at a time and they respond “Aye” or “No”

11. P. If bill passes in one house, it then goes to the other house
P. If bill passes in one house, it then goes to the other house. ***If either house rejects, the bill dies!!!***
Q. Both houses must pass an identical bill. ***If either house changes the bill it received from the other house, a conference committee is formed to work out the differences!***

12. R. After bill passes through both houses, it goes to the President.
S. President can do three things:
1. Sign the bill into a law.
2. Veto- refuse to sign the bill
3. Do nothing with the bill for 10 days.
a. if Congress is in session the bill becomes a law
b. if Congress is not in session the bill dies by
Pocket Veto
T. Congress CAN override a veto with a 2/3 majority in each house!

13. Mini Quiz!!! Who gives Congress ideas for laws?
True/False- Only members of Congress can introduce bills?
How many bills are introduced each year? How many actually become laws?
What is the difference between a private and a public bill?
If the President veto’s a bill, is it dead?