The Legislative Process Chapter 12 how a bill becomes law

The Legislative ProcessChapter 12 how a bill becomes lawHow a Bill grows up and becomes a Law3 waysThe Hard Way!The Fun Way!The School House Rock Way!1st reading, given a numberHouse Rules Committee sets limits on debate. 2nd reading Bill must pass both Houses with same language If not, goes to Conference Committee.House Bill IntroducedRider attachedReferred to CommitteeReferred to Sub CommitteeReported to Full Committee3 ActionsRules Committee ActionFloor ActionDebate and voteIf passes, either goes to the Senate or PresidentSenate Bill IntroducedRider attachedReferred to CommitteeReferred to Sub CommitteeReported to Full CommitteeFloor ActionDebate and vote..Filibuster or ClotureIf passes, either goes to the House or the PresidentPresidents ActionVetoSigned into lawStopStopStopStopStopStopStopStopStopStopCommittee ActionHearingsInvestigationVoted out of sub- committee.PigeonholeAmend or add to Approve and submit to floor debate -- do passHouse ApprovalSenate ApprovalStop

The SHR Way4

HOUSEBill introduced and given to Speaker of the HouseCurrent Speaker: John Boehner(R)IntroductionSENATEBill introduced and given to Majority LeaderfCurrent President Pro Tempore: Patrick Leahy(D)

HOUSEBill referred to standing committeedTo subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, approval

Back to full committee for more hearings & revisions

To rules committee to set conditions for debate / amendmentsCommittee ActionSENATEdBill referred to standing committee

To subcommittee for study, hearings, revisions, approval

Back to full committee for more hearings/revisions

HOUSE

Bill debated, then passed or defeated

If passed, bill goes to SenateFloor ActionSENATEdBill debated, then passed or defeated

If passed, bill goes to House

Resolves differences between House and Senate versions of bill * need an identical bill

Conference Committee

House and Senate vote on final passage

Approved bill sent to President

Congressional Approval Committee

President signs, or allows bill to become law without signing.ORVetoes

Presidential Action

Veto President takes actionPocket Veto President doesnt take action in last 10 days in Congress and bill dies.

Presidential ActionVetoed bills return to Congress 2/3 vote of each house will override veto

Presidential ActionThe Hard Way! One more timeOnce bills are introduced on the floor, they are given numbers (ex. HR 132)Then bills are assigned to committees to be heard, discussed, researched, and debated, then voted on.A bill will be assigned to a Standing Committee (permanent committee that discusses bills P340-341 ex. House Agriculture Committee )to be heard.Once in a Standing Committee it is referred to a Sub Committee ( a specialized committee under the Standing committee P340 ex. House Livestock Sub committee). If the bill passes out of the Standing Committee (only about 10%), it goes to the floor for a vote.If it passes it goes to the other house.If it passes out of the other house, it will go to a Conference Committee to work out differences.Finally it will go to the president for his action. As many as 10,000 measures are introduced in the House and Senate during a term of Congress.Fewer than 10% ever become law

Bipartisanship : support for a bill from members of both the Democrats and Republicans. Committee Chairmen are chosen by the majority party based on seniority. FYIAdditional notes to add to your graphic organizer