1. An Act of Congress Project
How A Bill is Made
An Act of Congress Project

2. Review Congress is the Law Making Branch
A Bill is a document that is trying to become a law
Two houses in Congress
Senate
House of Representatives

3. 1. Bill Introduced Bill is introduced and it receives a name/title
Example (Illegal Immigration # )
Bill then gets sent to a committee review how important this bill is

4. 2. Bill Goes to Committee
Bill is approved by committee or dropped by committee, depending on if it is a necessary and proper bill
If approved, bill goes to a Sub-Committee (a smaller, more focused group to see the pros and cons of the bill)

5. 3. Bill at Sub-Committee Bill can be approved or dropped
This depending on importance of the bill and if the bill is constitutional or not
If approved it will be sent back to the Committee

6. 4. Back to Committee
Bill can be dropped or approved one last time before going to the House or Senate
If approved, it is placed on the Senate or House calendar to be discussed by all members of that legislative body

7. 5. Bill is debated by the House or Senate
If approved by the first house, it goes to the other house
It then goes through committee hearings at this point to see if it is a good bill.
If both houses approve the bill, it is then sent to the President

8. 6. Sent to the President President has the right to veto or sign bill
Veto – drops bill
A signed bill then becomes law!
A vetoed bill can go back to Congress to see if they want to override the veto

9. 7. Bill Returns to Congress
If a bill is returned to the Congress with a veto from President, Congress can override (check and balance) the President’s veto
Bill can still become law with a 2/3 override vote of both Houses (House of Representatives and Senate)

10. Students Must do their Homework Bill
Senate
House of Representatives
Intro:
HOMEWORK OR PAY BILL
Students must do their homework or pay a $50 fine to their teacher for each day it is not turned in. Make students responsible and make teacher rich.
HOMEWORK OR PAY BILL
Committee on Education and Labor
House of Rep. Floor
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
PRESIDENT:
VETO: _____
SIGN: ______
Senate Floor
CONGRESS:
Override 2/3 Vote:
Yes: _____
No: ______
If needed!?!?!

11. Make Your Own Bill Project
You will need to get a partner for this project
Using the large paper in the back of the room, you will need to create a bill.
You need to have your bill go through the process of “how a bill is made” (let’s assume that it makes it past each committee)
You will then need to present it on Thursday in class to see if it is accepted or not.