HOW DOES A BILL BECOME

A LAW?

H O W M A N Y B I L L S A R E I N T R O D U C E D T O C O N G R E S S E A C H Y E A R ?6,000-9,000!

HOW MANY BILLS ACTUALLY BECOME LAWS?

ONLY ABOUT 300!

CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES1.What is the purpose of Congressional

Committees?–Allows members of Congress to divide their work among many smaller groups

2.What happens in committees?–Members select which bills will have a chance to become a law

TYPES OF COMMITTEESSTANDING COMMITTEE• Permanent•Oversee bills on issues that must be considered every year

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE• Temporary• Resolves differences when the White House and Senate have passed two different versions of the same bill

CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES• Agriculture, nutrition, and

forestry• Appropriations• Armed services• Banking, housing, and

urban affairs• Commerce, science, and

transportation• Energy and national

resources

• Environment and public works• Finance• Foreign relations• Labor and human resources• Rules and administrations • Small business• Veterans’ affairs

PIGEONHOLING• Definition:

– Ignoring a bill and letting die – in committee.• Reminder:

– Pigeons are ignored by most people/place it in a cubbyhole and leave it there.

• Meaningful picture/word:

PORKBARREL LEGISLATION•Definition:

–Money for projects given to members of Congress to distribute to their constituents (voters) back home, courtesy of the federal taxpayer.

• Reminder:–Taking park of a pig (pork)

•Meaningful picture/word:

FILIBUSTER•Definition:

–Delaying or stopping a vote by talking a bill to death (used only in Senate)

• Reminder word:–To kill/delay, talk A LOT

•Meaningful picture/word:

HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

- WHERE IDEAS COME FROM?HOUSE1. INTRODUCED

1. INTRODUCED TO THE HOUSE GIVEN AN HR# (HR564)

2. COMMITTEE1. COLLECTS INFO AND SUGGESTS

CHANGES3. ENTER FULL HOUSE FLOOR

1. BILL READ/DEBATED ON HOUSE FLOOR

2. VOTED ON3. IF APPROVED, BILL GOES TO

SENATE

SENATE1. INTRODUCED

1. INTRODUCED TO THE SENATE GIVEN AN S# (S4737)

2. COMMITTEE COLLECTS INFO1. SUGGESTS CHANGES

3. ENTER FULL HOUSE FLOOR1. BILL READ/DEBATED ON HOUSE2. VOTED ON3. IF APPROVED, BILL GOES TO

HOUSE

AFTER BOTH HOUSES HAVE APPROVED BILL; IT GOES TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

HOUSE1. INTRODUCED

1. INTRODUCED TO HOUSE AND ASSIGNED HR# AND TITLE

2. COMMITTEE1. COLLLECTS INFO/SUGGEST

CHANGES3. ENTER FULL HOUSE FLOOR

1. BILL READ/DEBATED ON HOUSE FLOOR AND VOTED ON

2. IF APPROVED, BILL GOES TO SENATE

SENATE

1. INTRODUCED1. INTRODUCED TO SENATE AND

ASSIGNED S# AND TITLE2. COMMITTEE

1. COLLECTS INFO AND SUGGEST CHANGES

3. ENTER FULL HOUSE FLOOR1. BILL READ/DEBATED ON HOUSE

FLOOR AND VOTED ON2. IF APPROVED, BILL GOES TO HOUSE

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE- Resolves difference between House and Senate version of bill. If changes are made, revised bill is sent back to both houses.

APPROVED BILL SENT TO PRESIDENT

CONGRESSIONAL OVERRIDE

VETO BILL–REJECT BILL

CONGRESS OVERRIDES VETO WITH 2/3 VOTE

WHAT’S THE NEXT STEP?The President has vetoed a Senate bill concerning the environment_______________________A bill has been passed by the House and Senate, but the Senate bill is slightly different________________________The Agricultural Committee in the House has reported favorably on a bill involving the price of grain_______________________A bill is introduced in the Senate to stop drug smuggling____________________________The House has approved and sent to the Senate a bill to raise import fees________________________________

CLOSURE

• Definition:– Stops a filibuster in the Senate. It requires the signatures of

16 senators and the votes of three fifths of the entire Senate membership.

• Reminder Word:– stop, petition

• Meaningful picture/word: