1. How a Bill becomes a Law in the House of Representatives
United States Government
Chapter 12, Section 3

2. Vocabulary Bill Joint Resolution Concurrent Resolution Resolution
Rider
Discharge Petition
Subcommittee
Committee of the Whole
Quorum
Engrossed

3. What are they?
Bill: A proposed law presented for consideration; Requires POTUS signature.
Joint Resolution: A document presented in both Houses dealing with “special” matters; Requires POTUS signature.
Concurrent Resolution: A document in which one house asks for agreement of the other on a “special” matter; No POTUS signature required.

4. And then…
Resolutions: Formal posture statements; used for new rules; does not need the approval of the other house or the signature of the President.
Rider: A separated matter added to an unrelated bill in order to try to get it passed.

5. The Introduction of a Bill
In the House, it is placed in the Hopper
It is given a number (H.R. 1234; S. 2345)
It is given a title “A Bill Amending Title ___ of the United States Code…” or “The Student Financial Aid Assistance Act of 2011,”
The Bill is placed in the Journal of the House and the Congressional Record.
The Journal is a direct transcript; the Congressional Record is not.

6. The Three Readings
The First Reading… number and title to the bill; referral to Committee
The Second Reading… floor consideration
The Third Reading… final consideration and vote on passage.

7. In Committee This is where most of the work of Congress gets done.
Most bills do not make their way out of committees.
If a Member of the House wants to force a bill onto the floor for consideration because it has been stuck in committee, they can present a discharge petition.

8. Subcommittees
These smaller committees, with more specific jurisdiction, examine and review bills even more.
Oftentimes, Members of the Subcommittee and/or their staffs will take authorized government travel to further investigate travel.
Subcommittees will sometimes hold hearings so that interested parties can present testimony on a bill.
Subcommittees have 5 options regarding the approval of a bill.

9. Scheduling Floor Debate & the Transaction of House Business
Following a bill’s reporting out of committee, it is scheduled on one of the House’s 5 Calendars:
The Union Calendar
The House Calendar
The Private Calendar
The Corrections Calendar
The Discharge Calendar
If the bill is an important matter, it is considered in the Committee of the Whole Members are needed to transact business in the C.O.W.

10. Floor Debate There are time limits as to how long a member may speak
They may not speak for longer than 1 hour unless the unanimous consent of the House is granted
Members may ask to “move the previous question.”

11. Voting in the House
Members must vote on all amendments, motions, and procedural issues.
Oftentimes, these other votes are a barometer as to whether or not the Bill can pass.
4 Different Methods of Voting in the House
Voice Vote
Division of the house
Teller Vote
Roll Call Vote (by electronic device)

12. The Engrossment of a Bill
The printing of a bill in its final form
Third and final reading
Vote on passage and signature by the Speaker (if passed)
Transfer over to the Senate.