1. Civics Unit 2.2 (ch. 6.4) Congress and Lawmaking

2. Pair Share Please answer 1.What is the difference b/w a standing committee & a conference committee? What determines a House or Senate member’s committee assignment? 2.What is the difference b/w a public and a private bill? 3.How is a joint resolution like a bill? 4.What is a filibuster?

3. I. Working Together in Lawmaking A.Debate Clause- Art I Sec 6- Gives members of Congress immunity from lawsuits for statements made in legislative chambers B.Compromise- blending and adjusting competing views and interests to accomplish something C.Consensus- agreement between groups D.Negotiation- meet and talk with others to create compromise or agreement

4. II. Congressional Organization A.Congressional committees- groups that focus on specific issues for oversight and management 1.standing committees- permanent committees

5. 2.select committees- temporary committees with specific issue (usually just to investigate) -9/11 Commission 3.joint committees- have members of both houses 4.subcommittees- smaller groups within committees -Veterans' Affairs, -Armed Services -Energy and Natural Resources -Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions -Select Committee on Intelligence -Armed Services -Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions -Small Business and Entrepreneurship

6. B.Committee Assignments 1.Seniority system- senators and reps who have been in longest get preferred committee spots 2.Party in power controls chairmanship

7. III. How a Bill Becomes a Law A.Types of Bills Passed 1.Private Bills- individual people or places 2.Public Bills- apply to entire nation and involve general matters (ex: taxation, Medicare) 1.Most bills are public bills $116 Billion for Katrina relief HR 3200- America's Affordable Health Choices Act

8. 3.Resolutions- formal approved statements on lawmakers opinions or decisions a.Joint Resolution- passed by both houses and law if signed by President (same as a bill) b.Non-binding Resolutions - are not law but just say lawmakers opinions

9. What do you think the artist is saying about lawmaking?

10. B.Step 1- Introducing 1.Can start in either Senate or House 2.ONLY a Senator or a Representative introduce a bill for Congress to consider http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyeJ55o3El0 School House Rock-I’m just a bill –video

11. C.Step 2- Committee Action 1.Proposed bill is sent to appropriate committee 2.Committee can: a.Pass bill as is b.Pass bill w/changes c.Replace w/new bill d.Ignore bill to die (“pigeonholing”) e.Kill bill w/majority vote

12. D.Step 3- Debating 1.Bills passed in committee are debated by the whole House or Senate 2.Rules of Debate- House of Representatives sets rules, usually time limits

13. 3.Filibuster- talking a bill to death a.Only in the Senate, no time limit for speaking b.Senator can delay vote by speaking for hours until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it c.Vote for cloture- end filibuster with 3/5 vote (most bills must pass with 60 votes) Rand Paul Filabusterhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MwjvOxSgic

14. E.Step 4- Voting 1.All members vote (in whichever house the bill began in) 1.Yea (yes) 2.Nay (no) 3.Present (very few do this)

15. F.Step 5- Sent to Other House 1.If bill passed in one house, it is sent to the other for approval 2.Senate and House must pass identical bills 3.If disagreement, a conference committee from both houses meets to work out differences

16. G.Step 6- Signing 1.President can sign the bill into law 2.President can veto –reject the bill 1.(Congress can override a veto with 2/3 but this is rare) 3.President can do nothing a.If Congress is in session, bill passes b.If not, it is pocket vetoed