1. “I’m Just a Bill”

2.  View the video clip and record as may steps as you see in the lawmaking process… how many can you come up with? I'm Just a Bill

3.  Step 1: Idea/Introduction - House: “hopper” by a rep. - Senate: senator introduces on the floor

4.  Step #2: Committee Action - New bills are sent to COMMITTEES and/or SUBCOMMITTEES - Most work is done in committees * Pigeonholing: committee ignores bill  DIES!

5.  Step #3: Floor Action/ DEBATE - House and Senate must pass identical versions of the bill. ** If one house accepts a different version of the bill… - CONFERENCE COMMITTEE = house and senate meet to compromise on the bill version * There is no limit of time to debate the bill!

6.  Step #4: Voting House and Senate must BOTH have a 2/3 majority. HOUSE votes first SENATE votes second

7.  Step #5: Presidential Action ** IF the bill passes in house and senate identically… - President then signs or vetoes the bill - The bill can go for 10 days without signing it, which it will become law - * Pocket Veto

8.  During Debate - Filibuster: senator talks for an extended amount of time to prevent a vote on a bill from taking place

9.  After Debate and Vote - Conference Committee: conference of reps and senators to compromise on one version of a bill - Veto: presidential rejection of a bill - Override Veto: congress overcomes presidential rejection by 2/3 vote