2. How a Bill Becomes a Law Deanna Daniel 8 th Grade Civics

3. Legislative Process Legislature –One of three branches of US Government –Congress House of Representatives – 435 members Senate – 100 members See the following web site for review : http://congress.indiana.edu

4. Function of Legislature Authority to make laws for the nation Congress is head of legislative activity

5. What is a Bill? A proposed law, introduced in the House or Senate by a member Assigned a bill number and a prefix indicating where it was first introduced Example: H.R. 308, S. 561

6. Key Players Congress –House –Senate Committees –19 house, 16 senate standing committees,

7. How a bill becomes a law 1.Bill is presented to the House by a representative who becomes its sponsor 2.Bill receives a legislative number and is assigned to committee for review and/ or revision 3.Bill is studied: Pass? Revise and release to next step? Dismiss “table”?

8. How a bill becomes a law (cont’d) 4. Calendared for Subcommittee action – Debated, amended Committee votes on bill 5.If approved by the standing committee it will be “released” from committee Bill is sent to the House for consideration, reading and study 6.Bill is voted upon by House

9. How a bill becomes a law (cont’d) 7.If the House passes the bill it is sent to the Senate. 8.The Senate may make revisions and a “conference committee” - House and Senate members together discuss 9. Senate votes to pass the bill-Enrolled sent to the President fo consideration

10. How a bill becomes a law (cont’d) 10.The President may: Approve the bill Veto the bill Let the bill sit on his desk If congress is in session, the bill becomes a law Otherwise the bill dies and goes back to its original legislature 11.If vetoed, Congress can vote to overturn the veto.

11. LAW

12. Definitions Representative Clerk House Senate Legislature Congress Committee Subcommittee Veto

13. References http://congress.indiana.edu/learn_about/to pic/legislative_process.phphttp://congress.indiana.edu/learn_about/to pic/legislative_process.php http://clerkkids.house.gov/laws/bill_propos e.htmlhttp://clerkkids.house.gov/laws/bill_propos e.html http://bensguide.gpo.gov/6- 8/lawmaking/index.html