1. Congress

2. About voting
When in doubt- vote to keep the status quo.

3. Bill Proposed law presented to the House or Senate
Healthcare or your plan text
All revenue bills MUST originate in House

4. Resolution
Does not have force of law, does not require presidents signature
Do not go to other House
We need to help Native Americans and what we have done to them is horrible.
07 Armenian Genocide Resolution
Goldstone Resolution
Calling to form an international program to fight peak oil

5. Concurrent Resolution
Must act together
Doesn’t have force of law
No president signature
States a position on some matter dealing with foreign policy

6. Joint Resolution Both houses pass a resolution
Has the force of law when passed
President doesn’t sign
Constitutional Amendment proposal

7. Rider-
Provision that is not likely to pass on its own but attached to something else that is certain to pass.
“Christmas Tree Bill”
Ex-
On-line gambling
Many pet projects
Horse slaughter Bill

8. How a Bill becomes Law 1 Read by the clerk & assigned to committee
Chairmen decides when it will be debated and leads the debate

9. Options for Committee
Pigeon Hole- sit on the bill and let it die on its own.
Report Favorably- Pass this bill
Amend the bill- Change it and then send on to House/Senate
Report Unfavorably- Sends it out of committee but says don’t pass it
Done w/controversial bills or as favor
5. Submit own bill

10. Out of Committee Assigned date for floor debate
Quorum- majority of membership
Debate occurs
House gets 1 hour per person
Speaker is task master
Vote happens
Passes goes to Senate
Fails
Dead
Referred back to committee (rarely)

11. In the Senate
Same process BUT has a few differences
In the Debate.

12. Debate on Senate Floor
Debate is unlimited no voting everyone is done talking
Can talk about whatever
They have to stand and speak respectively (No slouching)
Filibuster- attempt to talk a bill to death.
Used by the minority party
Ted Cruz
Stackhouse

13. Cloture Rules
Limiting debate that once invoked only 30 more hrs and then vote
60 Senators to vote for it.
Hesitant to use:
Tradition to free debate
Worry that they will need it some day…

14. If fails 2nd Chamber Dead
Conference committee where leaders of both chambers work towards a compromise

15. If passes both Chambers
Goes to President
4 options
1. Sign it
2. Veto it
Back to original chamber- can override w/a 2/3 vote of both houses.
3. Don’t sign and within 10 days becomes law
4. Pocket Veto- if session adjourns under ten days if president doesn’t act it dies