1. Chapter 5 The Legislative Branch
Section 1: The Senate and the House of
Representatives
Section 2: How Congress Is Organized
Section 3: The Powers of Congress
Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law

2. Section 4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
The Main Idea
To become a law, a bill goes through a multistage process involving both houses of Congress.
Reading Focus
How does a bill begin?
How do the House and the Senate consider a bill?
In what ways can the president act on the bill?

3. Types of Bills
Of the more than 10,000 bills introduced each congressional term, only several hundred become law.
Bills fall into two categories.
Private bills concern individual people or places.
Public bills apply to the entire nation and involve general matters like taxation, civil rights, or terrorism.

4. Resolutions
Congress also considers different kinds of resolutions, or formal statements expressing lawmakers’ opinions or decisions.
Many resolutions do not have the force of law.
Joint resolutions are passed by both houses of Congress and do become law if signed by the president.

5. Start With an Idea
Ideas for bills come from members of Congress, citizens, and the White House.
Other bills are suggested by special-interest groups, or organizations of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions.

6. Step 1: The Bill is Introduced
Only senators and representatives may introduce bills in Congress.
Every bill is given a title and number, and is then sent to an appropriate standing committee.
Hi, I'm H.R. 1
and S. 1

7. Step 2: The Bill is Sent to Committee
Standing committees can
(1) Pass the Bill Without Change
(2) Mark Changes and Suggest that the Bill be Passed
(3) Replace the Bill with an Alternative
(4) Pigeonhole the Bill (ignore it and let it die)
(5) Kill the Bill by Majority Vote

8. Step 3: The Bill is Added to the Schedules in Both Houses
Bills approved in committee are put on the schedules to be considered by the full House or Senate.
The Senate usually takes up bills in the order listed.
In the House, the Rules Committee can give priority to some bills and not let others get to the floor.

9. Step 4: Debate
When bills reach the floor, members debate the pros and cons.
The House accepts only relevant amendments.
The Senate allows riders— completely unrelated
amendments— to be
tacked onto the bill.

10. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Filibuster
The House Rules Committee puts time limits on the discussion.
Senators may speak as long as they like and need not even address the topic at hand.
Sometimes they filibuster,
or talk a bill to death.
A three-fifths vote for
cloture (a vote to end
debate) can end a
filibuster.
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

11. Step 5: Vote
In a simple voice vote, those in favor say “Yea” and those against say “No.”
In a standing vote, those in favor stand to be counted, and then those against stand.
The House uses a computerized voting system that records each representative’s vote.
Senators voice their votes in turn
as an official records them in a
roll-call vote.

12. A simple majority (more than half) of members present passes a bill.
After passing one house, the bill then goes to the other.
If either house rejects the bill, it dies.

13. Both Houses Must Pass the Bill
Both houses must pass an identical bill.
If either changes the bill it receives from the other house, a conference committee is formed to work out the differences.
The House and Senate must then either accept the revised bill as is or completely reject it.

14. Final Step: The Bill Goes to the President
may sign it into law
veto (or refuse to sign) it
or do nothing for 10 days - If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law without the president’s signature. If Congress had adjourned, the bill dies.
Killing a bill this way is called a
pocket veto.

15. Congress Can Override a Veto
Congress can override a veto with a
two-thirds vote of each house.

16. Bill Becomes a Law

17. Question: What actions can the president take regarding a passed bill?

18. Question: What actions can the president take regarding a passed bill?
If Congress is in session, the BILL BECOMES LAW,
even without a signature.
SIGNS THE BILL and it becomes law
The president KEEPS the BILL for 10 DAYS without signing or vetoing it:
The president ACTS on a Bill
REFUSES TO SIGN and sends back to Congress with rejection reasons – called a VETO.
If Congress is not in session, the bill is killed by POCKET VETO.

19. REVIEW