1. HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW

2. A bill is basically an ________ created
by somebody - either in the Legislature or in public
A bill becomes a law when the _______________ signs it.
_______________ (a bill) must be passed by both houses of Congress.
IDEA
PRESIDENT
LEGISLATION

3. The ________________ can ________ (reject) bills.
________________ can then _________ or overturn the veto.
PRESIDENT
VETO
CONGRESS
OVERRIDE

4. Steps in Lawmaking
1) A bill is __________________ in
Congress. It can be in either house.
In the House, is it given to a _______.
In the Senate, a bill is introduced by a
_____________.
After being introduced, the bill goes to a
_______________________.
INTRODUCED
CLERK
SENATOR
SUBCOMMITTEE

5. 2) A _____________ decides what to do
COMMITTEE
2) A _____________ decides what to do
A __________________ reports to a
full committee
The committee “tables”, _________ or sends the bill to the full house of
Congress
SUBCOMMITTEE
REJECTS

6. 3) A bill is ____________ and _______ on
DISCUSSED
VOTED
3) A bill is ____________ and _______ on
__________ is usually limited to one hour in the House. There is no such
limit in the Senate.
During this stage, __________________
(changes) may be made. Votes are
made on each change as well.
DEBATE
AMENDMENTS

7. A vote is taken. If a _______________ of the members vote “no”, the bill dies. If it votes “yes” the bill goes to the other house for review
A bill is sent to the other house for ________________ review and vote.
A bill will go through the committee process again. The bill is voted on once more.
MAJORITY
COMMITTEE

8. 5) A bill is ____________ by BOTH houses of Congress
APPROVED
5) A bill is ____________ by BOTH
houses of Congress
____________ may be made at this stage.
A _________________ committee, made up of members from ____________ houses, suggest changes and work out the problems.
CHANGES
CONFERENCE
BOTH

9. The bill returns to both houses for a ________.
A bill that __________ is sent to the President
VOTE
PASSES

10. 6) The ________________ acts! Can do 1 of 4 things:
PRESIDENT
6) The ________________ acts!
Can do 1 of 4 things:
a) _________ the bill – it becomes law!
b) do ______________ - it will become
law in 10 days if Congress is in session
c) ________ the bill – the bill “dies”
unless Congress votes to override it!
SIGNS
NOTHING
VETO

11. d) ________ the bill – Congress ends
its session and the bill eventually
dies (less than 10 days left in
session) – this is known as a
_____________ veto
HOLD
POCKET

12. 2/3 7) If the bill is vetoed, there is a ________
given as to why the veto has taken place
_________________ then can try and
override the President
It takes a _________ vote in BOTH houses!
The bill then would become _______!!!
REPORT
CONGRESS
2/3
LAW