United States Government Unit 3 The Legislative Branch

United States Government Unit 3: The Legislative Branch CH. 7: CONGRESS AT WORK

A. Types of Bills & Resolutions Public bills involve national issues; private bills deal with individual people or places. Resolutions may be passed by either house or by both houses jointly. Only a few bills become laws because: 1. the process is long and complex; 2. measures must have broad support; 3. supporters must be willing to compromise; 4. many bills introduced have no chance of passing

B. Introducing a Bill Introducing a new bill is the first step. New bills are sent to committees for study, review, and hearings. Once the committee completes the review process, the bill is either “killed” or reported to the full floor of the House or Senate for consideration.

C. Floor Action During debate any lawmaker may offer amendments, or changes, to the bill. The bill, including proposed amendments, must receive a majority vote in both the House and Senate to pass. Congress may use standing, roll-call, record, or voice votes to vote on a bill.

D. Final Steps in Passing a Bill To become a law, a bill must pass in identical form in both houses; conference committees work out differences when necessary, and send a compromise bill to back to each house for final action. The president may then let the bill become law by signing it, keeping it 10 days without signing it, or kill the bill by using a veto or pocket veto. Congress can override a veto by a 2/3 vote in each house

E. Making Decisions About Taxes The House of Representatives has exclusive power to start all revenue bills, and all important tax laws begin in the House Ways and Means Committee.

F. Appropriating Money Congress has the power of appropriation, or approval, of government spending. Congress uses a two-step procedure for appropriating money: 1. an authorization bill, setting up a federal program & specifying how much money may be spent on it. 2. an appropriation bill, providing the money needed to carry out the program or law

G. Influences on Lawmakers’ views on decisions are seldom based on individual conscience. Voters back home, lawmakers’ staff members, lawmakers’ own political parties, the president, and special-interest groups all influence lawmakers’ views.