2. THE FEDERAL LAWMAKING PROCESS (or, the exciting process of how a bill becomes a law) ARTICLE I, SECTION 5

3. describe the general process of how a bill becomes a law identify the many different groups involved in the lawmaking process evaluate the positive and negative aspects of the lawmaking process Once this presentation is complete, you should be able to :

4. What is a BILL? A BILL is a draft or idea for a law

5. Who comes up with the ideas for bills? ANYONE You, me, your parents, the President, interest groups, Congress, people

6. How does a bill become a law? It is a long process but once you get the hang of of it, it’s not too confusing! We will be looking at 10 basic steps in the lawmaking process For each step, pay close attention, and take careful and concise notes … and then we will sing

7. PROPOSAL Make July 10 Federal Soccer Day

8. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

9. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

10. NOTE - The lawmaking process may begin in either the Senate or the House of Representatives!! Except for REVENUE, or tax bills - they must begin in the House of Representatives (it’s in the Constitution)

11. 1) A bill is introduced into the House of Representatives by a Representative

12. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

13. 2) Committee Action filters committees act as filters for bills of common subjects investigate committees investigate the bill Committees can: report the bill to the entire House favorably or unfavorably change or amend the bill kill the bill - “pigeonhole” it

14. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

15. DAVDAV The Bill goes to the House Floor for action 3) The Bill goes to the House Floor for action On the House Floor, the Representatives can debate, amend, and vote on the bill A majority (50%+1) of the House must approve the bill for it to move on

16. Some interesting tidbits about debate and voting in the House Debate is limited in the House of Representatives Votes are public - not secret Votes are usually taken electronically

18. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

19. 4) A similar bill is introduced into the SENATE by a Senator

20. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

21. 5) Committee Action filters committees act as filters for bills of common subjects investigate committees investigate the bill Committees can: report the bill to the entire Senate favorably or unfavorably change or amend the bill kill the bill - “pigeonhole” it

22. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

23. 6) The bill goes to the Senate Floor for action Senators can debate, amend, and vote on the bill If the bill receives a majority (50%+1) vote, the bill will move on DAVDAV

24. Some interesting tidbits of info about debating and voting in the Senate Voting is done usually by roll call, public Debate in the Senate is UNLIMITED! filibusterSenators can talk for as long as they possibly can - this is called a filibuster What is the record? 24 hours and 18 minutes

25. Some interesting tidbits of info about debating and voting in the Senate Senators can add different laws to the bills being discussed. These additions are often called riders Such bills are referred to as CHRISTMAS TREE BILLS

26. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

27. 7) If the bill passed by the Senate is DIFFERENT than the bill passed by the House (it usually is), the bill goes to a Conference Committee The Conference Committee is made up of leaders of the House and Senate Standing Committees that investigated the bill They will meet and try to iron out the differences and pass the bill through both houses again

28. LOBBYISTS Representatives of special interests groups who meet with members of both houses to try to persuade them to vote for specific programs Some are full time, some are hired out Registered Federal Lobbyist DatabaseRegistered Federal Lobbyist Database

29. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

30. 8) After the Conference Committee, the bill is quickly passed through both houses of Congress…..

31. 8) and the ENROLLED bill is signed by both presiding officers and sent to the White House

32. Follow the Soccer Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

33. 9) Presidential Action – four options

34. The President can sign the bill - the bill becomes law

35. The President can choose to not sign the bill within 10 days the bill becomes a law (without the support of the President)

36. veto The President can veto the bill the bill goes back to Congress

37. The President can make a pocket veto if the President does not sign the bill, and Congress adjourns within 10 days, the bill DIES!!

38. Follow the Schwieters Bill 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

39. 10) If the President VETOES the bill, THE BILL IS NOT DEAD it can still become a law IF both houses override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote 2/3 2/3

40. Where can the Soccer bill die? 1) Intro in the House 2) House Committee Action 3) House Floor Action 4) Intro in the Senate 5) Senate Committee Action 6) Senate Floor Action 7) Conference Committee 8) Both houses, sent to President 9) Presidential Action 10) Congressional override

41. Some lawmaking statistics In the 106th Congress (1999-2000), 5,815 bills were introduced in the House, 3,343 in the SenateIn the 106th Congress (1999-2000), 5,815 bills were introduced in the House, 3,343 in the Senate 580 bills were enacted or passed both houses during the 106th Congress580 bills were enacted or passed both houses during the 106th Congress President Clinton vetoed 12 pieces of legislation (11 regular, 1 pocket)President Clinton vetoed 12 pieces of legislation (11 regular, 1 pocket) Congress was able to override 0 of President Clinton’s vetoesCongress was able to override 0 of President Clinton’s vetoes