1. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW In this lesson you will learn how a bill becomes a law http://www.schooltube.com/video/89a42a6 866404f4baab7/Im-Just-a-Bill http://www.schooltube.com/video/89a42a6 866404f4baab7/Im-Just-a-Bill

2. Introduction of a Bill A "bill" is introduced when a member of Congress decides to create a new law. Any member of Congress can introduce a bill. Only members of the House may introduce bills that deal with taxes or spending.

3. Committee Assignment Once a bill is introduced it is first assigned to a standing committee for review. The bill is tabled, or pigeonholed, if the committee decides the bill is not worthy. The bill is sent to the entire house for debate if the committee decides the bill is worthy of further action.

5. Committees in the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture Committee on Appropriations Committee on Armed Services Committee on the Budget Committee on Education and Labor Committee on Energy and Commerce Committee on Financial Services Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on Homeland Security Committee on House Administration Committee on the Judiciary Committee on Natural Resources Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Rules on Committee on Science and Technology Committee on Small Business Committee on Standards of Official Conduct Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Veterans' Affairs Committee on Ways and Means Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on Printing - Notice: Web site coming soon. Joint Committee on Taxation House Permanent Select Committee on IntelligenceHouse Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence House Select Committee Energy Independence and Global Warming

6. Debate The House has very specific rules on debate because of the size of the body. They have limits and time to speak. The Senate has very loose rules for debate- they can filibuster “talk a bill to death” The record is Held by former South Carolina senator Storm Thurmond who held the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes in the 1950’s. There is a cloture rule that limits debate- but 3/5 th of the senate must agree and it limits floor time to 30 hours.

7. What if the House and Senate disagree? If the bill passes, it is sent to the other house where the same process is followed. A joint committee works out any differences the two houses of Congress have concerning a bill.

8. Sending it to the President When both houses agree on a bill, the Speaker of the House and the vice president sign it. The bill must be signed before being sent to the president. The House and Senate vote to approve the bill. The bill goes to the President.

9. PRESIDENTIAL ACTION He may sign it. Sometimes a president decides to do nothing. If the president doesn’t sign it and Veto's it then-----

10. If Congress is in session, the bill becomes law after ten days without the president's signature or If Congress is not in session the bill suffers a pocket veto and does not become law. In 1996 a line item veto was added. This enables the President to reject individual items in appropriation ( $) bills.

11. Override If two-thirds of all the members of Congress vote "yes," the bill can still become law, overriding the President. The bill dies when there are not enough votes to override the President.

12. BILL BECOMES A LAW http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0