How Does a How Does a Bill Become a Bill Become a

Law?Law?By IsraelBy Israel MeadowsMeadows

What do you know about bills?

You have one minute to discuss what you think you

know with your neighbor….Go!

Let’s find out from the expertLet’s find out from the expertss!!

What is a Bill?What is a Bill?A A billbill is a proposed new is a proposed new law introduced within a law introduced within a legislature that has not legislature that has not been ratified, adopted, been ratified, adopted, or received assent .or received assent .

Step 1: A Bill Is BornStep 1: A Bill Is Born Anyone may draft Anyone may draft

a bill; however, a bill; however, only members of only members of

Congress can Congress can introduce introduce

legislation, and, by legislation, and, by doing so, become doing so, become the sponsor(s). the sponsor(s).

Step 2: Committee ActionStep 2: Committee Action As soon as a bill is As soon as a bill is

introduced, it is introduced, it is referred to a referred to a committee. At this committee. At this point the bill is point the bill is examined examined carefullycarefully and its chances for and its chances for passage are first passage are first determined. If the determined. If the committee does not committee does not act on a bill, the bill is act on a bill, the bill is effectively "dead."effectively "dead."

Step 3: Subcommittee ReviewStep 3: Subcommittee Review

Often, bills are referred Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee for to a subcommittee for study and hearings. study and hearings. Hearings provide the Hearings provide the opportunity to put on opportunity to put on the record the views of the record the views of the executive branch, the executive branch, experts, other public experts, other public officials and supporters, officials and supporters, and opponents of the and opponents of the

legislation.legislation.

Step 4: Mark upStep 4: Mark up

When the hearings When the hearings are completed, the are completed, the subcommittee may subcommittee may meet to "mark up" meet to "mark up" the bill; that is, the bill; that is, make changes and make changes and amendments prior amendments prior to recommending to recommending the bill to the full the bill to the full committee. committee.

Step 5: Committee Action to Step 5: Committee Action to Report a BillReport a Bill

After receiving a After receiving a subcommittee's subcommittee's report on a bill the report on a bill the full committee full committee votes on its votes on its recommendation to recommendation to the House or the House or Senate. This Senate. This procedure is called procedure is called "ordering a bill "ordering a bill reported."reported."

Step 6: VotingStep 6: Voting

After the debate After the debate and the approval and the approval of any of any amendments, amendments, the bill is passed the bill is passed or defeated by or defeated by the members the members voting. voting.

Step 7: Referral to Other Step 7: Referral to Other ChamberChamber

When the House or When the House or Senate passes a Senate passes a bill, it is referred to bill, it is referred to the other chamber, the other chamber, where it usually where it usually follows the same follows the same route through route through committee and committee and floor action. This floor action. This chamber may chamber may approve the bill as approve the bill as received, reject it, received, reject it, ignore it, or change ignore it, or change it. it.

Step 8: Conference Committee Step 8: Conference Committee ActionAction

When the actions of When the actions of the other chamber the other chamber significantly alter significantly alter the bill, a the bill, a conference conference committee is committee is formed to reconcile formed to reconcile the differences the differences between the House between the House and Senate and Senate versions. versions.

Step 9: Final ActionStep 9: Final Action

After both the House After both the House and Senate have and Senate have approved a bill in approved a bill in identical form, it is identical form, it is sent to the sent to the president. If the president. If the president approves president approves of the legislation, he of the legislation, he signs it and it signs it and it becomes law.becomes law.

STEP 10: Sign the Bill into LawSTEP 10: Sign the Bill into Law

Step 11: Vetoing a BillStep 11: Vetoing a Bill

If the president If the president opposes the bill he opposes the bill he can veto it; or if he can veto it; or if he takes no action takes no action after the Congress after the Congress has adjourned its has adjourned its second session, it second session, it is a "pocket veto" is a "pocket veto" and the legislation and the legislation dies. dies.

Step 12: Overriding a VetoStep 12: Overriding a Veto

If the president vetoes If the president vetoes a bill, Congress may a bill, Congress may attempt to "override attempt to "override the veto." If both the the veto." If both the Senate and the House Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the thirds majority, the president's veto is president's veto is overruled and the bill overruled and the bill becomes a law. becomes a law.

Review GameReview Game

Let’s PlayLet’s Play

Click to Start

Works CitedWorks Cited

http://www.genome.gov/12513982http://www.genome.gov/12513982

http://http://www.jmu.edu/madison/teacher/jeopawww.jmu.edu/madison/teacher/jeopardy/jeopardy.htmrdy/jeopardy.htm