How a Bill Becomes a Law A Bill
How a Bill Becomes a Law.
A Bill is a proposed law The Sponsor is the person who proposes the bill Types of Bills Public Bills-applies to general public Private Bills –concern individuals
Sub Committee How a Bill Becomes a Law Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee President Law Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor House Floor Senate Floor Sub Committee
A Bill Can Start in Either the House or Senate House of Representatives Senate
Introducing a Bill Senate - a motion from the floor House - placed in a box called the Hopper
Assign Bills to Committees • Each bill is sent to a standing committee by either the • Speaker of the House • Majority Leader of the Senate (with help of the Steering Committee)
Types of Committees • Standing Committees – Specialized committee that bill fall under jurisdiction • Select Committees – Temporary committees set up for investigative purposes • Joint Committees – Made up of members of both houses of Congress
Standing Committee House of Representatives
Sub Committee Standing Committee House of Representatives
Standing Committee • Can send bill to subcommittee or work on it in committee • Research the bill, hear testimony, seek advice of experts, look for loopholes • Committee Action • • • Pigeon hole - Set aside for later discussion Clean bill - Scrap a bill and write a new bill to replace it “Mark Up” Amend the bill in subcommittee or committee Report bill favorably to floor (Pass as it is) Report bill unfavorably to floor (so they don’t have to be responsible for killing it by pigeonhole…This is done if the law is controversial and known by general public)
Saving a Bill from Committee When any bill has been in a “House Committee” for more than 30 days, a representative can ask the Bypass Committee to use a Discharge Petition (which requires a majority vote) to send the bill to the House floor.
Calendars Once passed by committee the bill is put on a calendar. Each bill must be voted on in the order it is placed on the calendar. – House – Union – Private – Consent
Sub Committee Standing Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate
The Rules Committee • Places all House bills on the calendar • Set rules for debate (length of total debate and individual speaker time) • Set rules for amendments • Open Rule • Closed Rule • Modified Rule • Committee of the Whole can be used to continue debate (requires 100 reps to be in chamber) but all actions must be approved by the entire House.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate
House Debate Rules • Only one bill at a time can be debated • Debate must be germane (related to topic) • Debate time is limited Senate Debate Rules • 2 or 3 bills can be debated at a time • Debate does not have to be germane • Debate time is NOT limited • Filibusters - unlimited speaking on any issue • Cloture • Motion by 16 senators PRIOR TO a filibuster • 3/5 vote of Senate will limit debate to 1 hour
Floor Action on Bills Pass the bill as written Table the bill on floor while voting for it. Send bill back to the committee for further study Amending the Bill Senate Only: Riders (non-germane amendments) are allowed
Voting in Congress Voice vote: “All in favor”, “All opposed”. Standing vote: Stand up when vote is called. Roll call vote: names called & you tell your vote. Mandatory method for overriding President’s veto. Electronic Vote
Senate Standing Committee
Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee
Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee Senate Floor Debate
Bill Passes Both Houses • It bill passes in exact same version from both • Bill goes directly to President • If it is passed in two versions • conference committee is formed • conference must reach agreement • the revised bill is voted on in both chambers • majority vote in each House will pass bill to the President
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate President Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee Law Senate Floor Debate Majority vote in each house for passage.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee Senate Floor Debate Members from both Senate and House make up the Conference Committee.
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor The bill must be passed on each floor with no changes. Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor If the President signs the bill then it becomes law. Law
Bill Becomes a Law • When the President signs it, the bill becomes law • If the President vetoes the bill it can still be passed with a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. • If the 2/3 of House & 2/3 of Senate override the veto, the bill becomes law
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor If the President vetoes the bill then it goes back to both houses. House Floor Senate Floor
Sub Committee Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee Sub Committee President Law Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor This time the bill must be passed by 2/3 of majority to override. House Floor Senate Floor
Sub Committee How a Bill Becomes a Law Standing Committee Rules Committee House of Representatives House Floor Debate House Floor Conference Committee Senate Standing Committee President Law Senate Floor Debate Senate Floor House Floor Senate Floor Sub Committee
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