Understanding the Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law
This chapter outlines the journey of a bill from conception to law, detailing the two main categories of bills: private and public. It discusses the role of resolutions and joint resolutions and explains where bills originate and who can introduce them. The process involves various committee actions, including passing, amending, or killing a bill. It highlights procedures in the House and Senate, including debate terms, voting methods, and the critical role of the President’s approval or veto. Understand the complexities of legislative procedures and the factors influencing law creation.
Understanding the Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law
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Presentation Transcript
Chapter 6Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law
I. Types of Bills • What are the 2 categories of bills? -Private bills: concern individual ppl -Public bills: apply to the entire nation and general matters 2. Define resolutions. -Formal statements expressing lawmakers’ opinions or decisions 3. What are joint resolutions? - resolutions passed by both houses of Congress - become laws if signed by the president
II. From Bill to Law 4. Where do all bills start? -With an idea - ideas come from members of Congress, private citizens, special-interest groups, White House, etc.. 5. Who can introduce bills into Congress? - Senators and Representatives 6. Where must money bills start? - House of Representatives
II. From Bill to Law 7. Once a bill is introduced, what is it given? -A title and number 8. What happens to bills once they reach the standing committee? -The chairperson decides if it gets ignored or studied -If merits attention, will be researched, public hearings held, and citizens can send in written statements
II. From Bill to Law 9. What are the 5 things the standing committee can do to bills? • Pass the bill w/o changes • Mark up a bill with changes and suggest that it be passed • Replace the original bill with a new alternative • Ignore the bill and let it die (pigeonholing) • Kill the bill outright by majority vote
II. From Bill to Law 10. Once a bill leaves the committee, what happens to it? -Bills are put on calendars (schedules), in chronological order as they come out of committees -The Senate takes up bills in the order listed -The House schedule, is controlled by the Rules Committee, can give priority to the bills that are most important
II. From Bill to Law 11. Once a bill reaches the floor, what happens? -Members argue pros and cons -Amendments may be discussed as well 12. What is a rider and which house allows them? -Completely unrelated amendments -Senate
II. From Bill to Law 13. What are the terms for debate established in the House of Representatives? Who determines the terms? -House: Time limit on discussion -Senate: can speak as long as the wish, don’t even have to address the topic at hand -Rules Committee for House
II. From Bill to Law 14. What is a filibuster? How can it be ended? -Talking w/o stopping in order to talk a bill to death -Three-fifths of the member vote for cloture 15. Describe the e different ways to vote for a bill. • Voice vote- those in favor say “yea”, those against say “no” • Standing vote- those in favor stand to be counted, then those against stand to be counted • House uses a computerized system to record each vote • Roll-call vote: voice their votes in turn as an official records them
II. From Bill to Law 16. After a bill is approved by Congress, where does it go? - To the president 17. Once the president receives the bill, what are his/her options? • Sign the bill and declare it a new law • Veto- refuse to sign • Do nothing for 10 days. If Congress in session, bill b/ms law w/o President’s signature. If Congress had adjourned, bill dies (pocket veto)
