1. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Unit 4 Lecture Notes

3. Types of Bills Private Bills – bills about individuals
Public Bills – bills that effect the whole country
Raising / lowering taxes
Health insurance
Gun control
More . . .

4. Resolutions – not laws!
Simple Resolution – establish rules or procedures within houses
Joint Resolutions – to correct errors in previous laws
Concurrent Resolutions – both houses want to share a common opinion

5. Riders – Mr. Gipson hates these!
Attached to a Bill or Resolution
Provisions that have nothing to do with the bill being passed.

6. Few Bills become laws – Why?
The process can have up to 100 steps
People must be willing to bargain and compromise
Some people introduce bills just so they can publicly stand against them

7. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
Introducing a Bill – Step 1
Only congress can introduce a bill
A Bill is dropped into a box by a congressman
Read out-loud in a congressional meeting

8. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
Committees – Step 2
The Bill is then sent to a committee within congress
Can then be sent to a subcommittee
These committees can choose to ignore the bill in order to kill it = pigeonholing
If a committee decides to discuss the bill they have hearings
Committee makes a decision
Kill the bill
Send it to the floor
Change the Bill and then send it to the floor

9. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
Floor Action – Step 3
Congressman argue for the bill on the floor and changes can be made again
In any order . . .
House Argues
Senate Argues
Filibuster – The Senators can “talk a bill to death” if they choose. There are no rules in the Senate for forcing senators to vote. Senators are allowed as much time as they want to debates
Why? – The filibuster was never used until the 19th Century. Our founding fathers envisioned the Senate as being “the stable” house, and the House of Representatives more susceptible to the will of the masses.
Once again, our founding fathers fearful of “Tyranny of the Masses”

10. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
Voting on the Bill – Step 4
Congress (The Senate and the House) must vote on the bill
In order for a vote to take place, a “quorum” must be present – a majority

11. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
Conferencing – Step 5
House and Senate could pass two different bills by the time the process is done, so a conference committee reconciles the differences between the two houses

12. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
Voting again – Step 6
The House and the Senate vote on the bill once again now that it is the same

13. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
Presidential Action – Step 7
Sign the bill into law
Not sign the bill and then after 10 days it becomes law
Veto the Bill
Pocket Veto – if within the last 10 days congress is in session, the president can take no action, and the bill is vetoed and congress cannot override it.

14. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
If Vetoed congress can override with 2/3 vote in house and senate – Step 8

15. Steps to a Bill Becoming a Law
If made approved, it is registered as a law in the National Archives – Step 9