HOW A BILL

BECOMES LAW

1) A bill is basically an ________ created

by somebody - either in the Legislature or in public

2) A bill becomes a law when the _______________ signs it.

3) _______________ (a bill) must be passed by both houses of Congress.

IDEA

PRESIDENT

LEGISLATION

4) The ________________ can ________

(reject) bills.

________________ can then _________ or overturn the veto.

PRESIDENT VETO

CONGRESS OVERRIDE

5) Steps in Lawmaking1) A bill is __________________ in

Congress. It can be in either house.

In the House, is it given to a _______.

In the Senate, a bill is introduced by a _____________.

After being introduced, the bill goes to a_______________________.

INTRODUCED

CLERK

SENATOR

SUBCOMMITTEE

2) A _____________ decides what to do

A __________________ reports to a

full committee

The committee “tables”, _________ or sends the bill to the full house of

Congress

COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEE

REJECTS

3) A bill is ____________ and _______ on

__________ is usually limited to one hour in the House. There is no such

limit in the Senate.

During this stage, __________________

(changes) may be made. Votes are

made on each change as well.

DISCUSSED VOTED

DEBATE

AMENDMENTS

A vote is taken. If a _______________ of the members vote “no”, the bill dies. If it votes “yes” the bill goes to the other house for review

4. A bill is sent to the other house for ________________ review and vote.

A bill will go through the committee process again. The bill is voted on once more.

MAJORITY

COMMITTEE

5) A bill is ____________ by BOTH

houses of Congress

____________ may be made at this stage.

A _________________ committee, made up of members from ____________ houses,

suggest changes and work out the problems.

APPROVED

CHANGES

CONFERENCE

BOTH

The bill returns to both houses for a ________.

A bill that __________ is sent to the President

VOTE

PASSES

6) The ________________ acts!Can do 1 of 4 things:

a) _________ the bill – it becomes law!

b) do ______________ - it will become law in 10 days if Congress is in

session

c) ________ the bill – the bill “dies” unless Congress votes to override it!

PRESIDENT

SIGNS

NOTHING

VETO

d) ________ the bill – Congress ends

its session and the bill eventually

dies (less than 10 days left in

session) – this is known as a

_____________ veto

HOLD

POCKET

7) If the bill is vetoed, there is a ________

given as to why the veto has taken place

_________________ then can try and

override the President

It takes a _________ vote in BOTH houses!

The bill then would become _______!!!

REPORT

CONGRESS

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LAW