HOW A BILL GROWS UP AND BECOMES A LAW…

3 ways…The Hard Way!The Fun Way!

The School House Rock Way!

1st reading, given a number

House Rules Committee sets

limits on debate.

2nd reading

• Bill must pass both Houses with same language…

If not, goes to Conference Committee.

• Bill must pass both Houses with same language…

If not, goes to Conference Committee.

House Bill IntroducedRider attached

House Bill IntroducedRider attached

Referred to CommitteeReferred to Committee

Referred to Sub Committee

Referred to Sub Committee

Reported to Full Committee—3

Actions

Reported to Full Committee—3

Actions

Rules Committee Action

Rules Committee Action

Floor ActionDebate and vote

If passes, either goes to the Senate

or President

Floor ActionDebate and vote

If passes, either goes to the Senate

or President

Senate Bill Introduced

Rider attached

Senate Bill Introduced

Rider attached

Referred to CommitteeReferred to Committee

Referred to Sub Committee

Referred to Sub Committee

Reported to Full Committee

Reported to Full Committee

Floor ActionDebate and vote..

Filibuster or Cloture

If passes, either goes to the House or

the President

Floor ActionDebate and vote..

Filibuster or Cloture

If passes, either goes to the House or

the President

President’s ActionPresident’s Action

VetoVeto Signed into lawSigned into law

Stop

Stop

Stop

Stop

Stop

Stop

Stop

Stop

Stop

Stop

Committee Action

• Hearings• Investigation• Voted out of

sub- committee….• Pigeonhole

• Amend or add to

• Approve and submit to

floor debate -- “do pass”

House ApprovalHouse

ApprovalSenate

ApprovalSenate

Approval

Stop

The Easy Way…

House of Reps

Current Speaker:

John Boehner

(R)

Introduction

Senate

Current Majority Leader:

Harry Reid

(D)

HOUSE

Bill referred to standing

committee

To subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, approval

Back to full committee for

more hearings & revisions

To rules committee to set

conditions for debate /

amendments

Committee ActionSENATE

Bill referred to standing

committee

To subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, approval

Back to full committee for

more hearings/revisions

House

Bill debated

than passed or defeated

If passed it is sent on

to the Senate

Floor Action

Senate

Bill debated then passed or defeated

If passed it is sent on to the House

Resolves differences between House and Senate versions of

bill * need an identical bill

Conference Committee

House and Senate vote on final passage

Approved bill sent to President

Congressional Approval Committee

each house will override veto

Presidential Action

President either:

• Signs and it becomes law• Vetoes and it is sent back to

Congress• Doesn’t sign and it becomes law

• As many as 10,000 measures are introduced in the House and Senate during a term of Congress.

• Fewer than 10% ever become law

• “Bipartisanship” : support for a bill from members of both the Democrats and Republicans.

FYIAdditional notes to add to your

graphic organizer

What steps must be taken for a bill to become a law?Again…

Step 1

The Bill is Proposed by a Citizen, the President or an Interest Group

Step 2

The bill is introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate

Step 3

The Bill is Studied by a House Committee

 

Step 4

The Bill is Debated on the House Floor

Step 5

The Bill is Sent to the Senate

Step 6

The Bill is Studied by a Senate Committee

Step 7

The Bill is Debated in the Senate 

Step 8

The Senate Votes on the Bill  

Step 9

The Bill is Sent to the President

If a bill passes the House of Representatives it would then go to…

Review

If a bill passes through the House of Representatives then the next step would be to go through the?

Senate

End of Course Question

What does it mean that a bill is a “proposed law?”

a. it may become a law b. it is a law c. it should be a law d. it will never be law

End of Course Question

Which branch of Government can veto laws?

a. the Executive branch, which is represented by the president

b. the legislative branch, which is represented by Congress

c. no branch of government can veto laws

d. the judicial branch, which is represented by the Courts