1. HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW …BUT TODAY I AM STILL JUST A BILL.

2. The Congressional Process Presidents and Congress: Partners and Protagonists Presidents attempt to persuade Congress that what they want is what Congress wants. Presidents have many resources to influence Congress. But to succeed, the president must win at least 10 times. Ultimately, residential leadership of Congress is at the margins.

3. The Congressional Process Party, Constituency, and Ideology Party Influence: Party leaders cannot force party members to vote a particular way, but many do vote along party lines. Reciprocity/logrolling – “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” Constituency versus Ideology Prime determinant of member’s vote on most issues is ideology On most issues that are not salient, legislators may ignore constituency opinion. But on controversial issues, members are wise to heed constituent opinion.

4. HOUSE1A The bill is proposed in the House of Representatives. Placed in a hopper-a box on the clerk’s desk Clerk reads bill Rider-a provision attached to the bill Not necessarily related to the bill THIS IS THE 1 ST READING.

5. HOUSE 2A Bill is referred to a standing committee for consideration.

6. HOUSE 3A Standing committee revises bill through subcommittee process. Actions that can occur here: 1. Pigeonhole bill: kill the bill 2. Change and approve the bill and send forward 3. Approve the bill as it is and send forward

7. HOUSE 4A Rules committee determines when the bill can be taken up and voted upon by the full House.

8. HOUSE 5A House debates the bill and votes for its passage. Once approved after 2 nd reading, the bill is printed in its final form. 3 rd reading occurs with a final vote. If approved, Speaker signs it and it is sent to the Senate for approval. THIS IS THE 2 ND AND 3 RD READING.

9. SENATE 1B The bill is proposed in the Senate. Introduced by Senators Read twice

10. SENATE 2B Bill is referred to a standing committee for consideration.

11. SENATE 3B Standing committee revises bill through subcommittee process. Actions that can occur here: 1. Pigeonhole bill: kill the bill 2. Change and approve the bill and send forward 3. Approve the bill as it is and send forward

12. SENATE 4B? NO 4B. WHY? BECAUSE THE SENATE DOES NOT HAVE A RULES COMMITTEE.

13. SENATE 5B Senate debates the bill and votes for passage. Senators can debate for as long as they please. Filibuster: a Senator or group of Senators monopolizing the debate in order to prevent a bill from being passed LONGEST BY 1 PERSON: 24 HOURS 18 MINUTES!!!

14. HOUSE & SENATE 6A/6B House-Senate conference committee reconciles 2 versions of the bill. Only used if there are different versions of the bill after going through both houses.

15. HOUSE 7A If compromise is made in the conference committee… House approves compromised version of the bill.

16. SENATE 7B If compromise is made in the conference committee… Senate approves compromised version of the bill.

17. HOUSE & SENATE 8A/8B President signs or vetoes the bill. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override it with a 2/3 vote in each house.