How a Bill Becomes How a Bill Becomes LawLaw

CH 12.3/12.4CH 12.3/12.4

Types of Bills and Types of Bills and ResolutionsResolutions

BillBill- a proposed law- a proposed law

PublicPublic- measures applying - measures applying to the nation as a wholeto the nation as a whole

PrivatePrivate- measures that - measures that apply to certain persons apply to certain persons or places rather than the or places rather than the entire nationentire nation

Types of Bills and Types of Bills and ResolutionsResolutions

Joint ResolutionJoint Resolution- A proposal for - A proposal for some action that has the force some action that has the force of law when passed- usually of law when passed- usually deals with temporary issuesdeals with temporary issues

Concurrent ResolutionConcurrent Resolution- A - A joint statement by the House joint statement by the House & Senate of their position on & Senate of their position on an issue- does not have the an issue- does not have the force of lawforce of law

RiderRider- an additional - an additional clause, usually unrelated clause, usually unrelated to the main body, to the main body, attached to a legislative attached to a legislative bill in passing it.bill in passing it.

Types of Bills and Types of Bills and ResolutionsResolutions

ResolutionResolution- A measure - A measure dealing with some matter dealing with some matter in one house- does not in one house- does not have the force of lawhave the force of law

I'm just a bill.I'm just a bill.Yes, I'm only a bill.Yes, I'm only a bill.

And I'm sitting here on Capitol And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill...Hill...

SourcesSources

citizens

Interest

groupscongressme

ncommittee

s

Exec. Branc

h

Well, it's a long, long journeyWell, it's a long, long journeyTo the capital city.To the capital city.

IntroductionIntroductionBy a representativeGiven an H.R.#

It's a long, long waitIt's a long, long waitWhile I'm sitting in While I'm sitting in

committee…committee…

Committee ActionCommittee Action

1. Referred to1. Referred to the appropriate standing the appropriate standing committeecommittee

2. Referred to a 2. Referred to a subcommitteesubcommittee-- a a division of an existing committee, division of an existing committee, made to address specific issues- made to address specific issues- study, hearings, revisions, etc.study, hearings, revisions, etc.

Committee ActionCommittee Action3. Back to committee for revisions and 3. Back to committee for revisions and

debate- 5 optionsdebate- 5 options

A.A. Report favorably Report favorably

B.B. Refuse to report = Refuse to report =This

happens to most

billsC.C. Amend it Amend it

D.D. Report unfavorably Report unfavorably

E.E. Report a new committee made bill Report a new committee made bill

Discharge petition-Discharge petition- a procedure for a procedure for members to force a bill out of members to force a bill out of committeecommittee

Committee ActionCommittee Action4. Placed on a calendar4. Placed on a calendar

A.A. Union CalendarUnion Calendar- all bills dealing - all bills dealing with $ or government propertywith $ or government property

B.B. House Calendar-House Calendar- all other public all other public billsbillsC.C. Private Calendar-Private Calendar- all private bills all private bills

D.D. Corrections Calendar-Corrections Calendar- bills taken bills taken from the House & Union calendars from the House & Union calendars by unanimous vote – usually have by unanimous vote – usually have no oppositionno opposition

E.E. Discharge Calendar-Discharge Calendar- discharge discharge petitionspetitions

Committee ActionCommittee Action

5. Sent to the Rules Committee5. Sent to the Rules Committee who who grants the bill a rule saying if, or grants the bill a rule saying if, or how, it may be discussed- rules for how, it may be discussed- rules for debatedebate

But I know I'll be a law But I know I'll be a law someday. At least I hope someday. At least I hope

and pray that I will,and pray that I will,but today I am still just a but today I am still just a

bill…bill…

Floor ActionFloor ActionMust have Must have quorumquorum-- a majority of the a majority of the

full membership must be present. full membership must be present. (218)(218)Or act as a Or act as a Committee of the WholeCommittee of the Whole-- a a procedure to speed up business, procedure to speed up business, where the whole body sits as a where the whole body sits as a committee of itself when a quorum committee of itself when a quorum is not presentis not present

If they vote yes, what happens?

Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all

over again!

Well, it's a long, long journeyWell, it's a long, long journey

Introduction in the SenateIntroduction in the SenateBy a SenatorGiven an S.#

It's a long, long waitIt's a long, long waitWhile I'm sitting in While I'm sitting in

committee…committee…

Floor ActionFloor ActionRules for debate Rules for debate are very unrestrictedare very unrestricted

FilibusterFilibuster-- A tactic of prolonged floor A tactic of prolonged floor debate used to defeat a bill in the debate used to defeat a bill in the Senate by preventing a final vote; Senate by preventing a final vote; “talking a bill to death”“talking a bill to death”

ClotureCloture- - a motion to limit debate- a motion to limit debate- difficult to dodifficult to do

Conference CommitteeConference Committee

A temporary joint committee, with A temporary joint committee, with members of both houses, made to members of both houses, made to iron out the differences between the iron out the differences between the House & Senate versions of the bill.House & Senate versions of the bill.

Congressional ApprovalCongressional Approval

I'm just a billI'm just a billYes, I'm only a billYes, I'm only a bill

And if they vote for me on And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill…Capitol Hill…

Well, then I'm off to the White Well, then I'm off to the White House where I'll wait in a line House where I'll wait in a line with a lot of other bills for the with a lot of other bills for the

president to…president to…1.1. Sign it into law Sign it into law

2.2. Veto- denying a bill passage into law– Veto- denying a bill passage into law– Congress may override this with a 2/3 Congress may override this with a 2/3 maj. votemaj. vote3.3. Allow the bill to become law Allow the bill to become law without signing in 10 dayswithout signing in 10 days

4.4. Pocket veto- if Congress adjourns Pocket veto- if Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill within 10 days of submitting the bill and the Pres. Does not act, the bill and the Pres. Does not act, the bill diesdies

And if he signs me, then I'll be And if he signs me, then I'll be a law. How I hope and pray a law. How I hope and pray

that he will, but today I am still that he will, but today I am still just a bill. just a bill.

He Signed ya Bill, now you’re a law!

Oh Yeah!