Unit 6.1

Congress and Lawmaking

I. Working Together in LawmakingA. Debate Clause- Art I Sec 6-

Gives members of Congress immunity from lawsuits for statements made in legislative chambers

B. Compromise- blending and adjusting competing views and interests to accomplish something

C. Consensus- agreement between groups

D. Negotiation- meet and talk with others to create compromise or agreement

II. Congressional OrganizationA. Congressional

committees- established groups on specific issues for oversight, management, or writing legislation1. standing

committees- permanent committees

2. select committees- temporary committees that deal with specific issues (usually just to investigate)

3. joint committees- has members of both houses4. subcommittees- smaller within committees

-Veterans' Affairs, -Armed Services-Energy and Natural Resources-Health, Education,Labor, and Pensions-Select Committee on Intelligence

-Armed Services -Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions-Small Business and Entrepreneurship

-Committee on Energy and Commerce -Subcommittee on Health-Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection

B. Committee Assignments1. Seniority system- senators and reps who

have been in longest get preferred committee spots

2. Party in power controls chairmanship

III. How a Bill Becomes a Law

A. Types of Bills Passed1. Private Bills- individual people or places2. Public Bills- apply to entire nation and

involve general matters (ex: taxation, Medicare)

$116 Billion for Katrina relief

HR 3200- America's Affordable Health Choices Act

3. Resolutions- formal approved statements on lawmakers opinions or decisionsa. Joint Resolution- passed by both houses and

law if signed by President (same as a bill)b. Non-binding Resolutions - are not law but

just say lawmakers opinions

B. Step 1- Introducing1. Can start in either Senate or House 2. A Senator or a Representative introduce a

bill for Congress to considera. Given title and numberb. Other congressmen can attach their names

C. Step 2- Committee Action1. Proposed bill is sent to appropriate

committee2. Committee can:

a. Pass bill as isb. Pass bill w/changesc. Replace w/new billd. Ignore bill to die (“pigeonholing”)e. Kill bill w/majority vote

D. Step 3- Debating 1. Bills passed in committee go for

consideration by the whole House or Senate

2. Rules of Debate- In the House, Rules Committee sets terms for debate, usually time limits

3. Filibuster- talking a bill to deatha. In Senate, no time limit for speakingb. Senator can delay vote by speaking for hours

until the bill’s sponsor withdraws itc. Vote for cloture- end filibuster with 3/5 vote

(most bills must pass with 60 votes)

E. Step 4- Voting1. voice vote- verbally say “Yea” or “No”2. standing vote- stand and be counted for

yes or no3. roll-call vote- respond when names are

called

F. Step 5- Sent to Other House1. If bill passed in one house, it is sent to the

other for approval2. Senate and House must pass identical bills3. If disagreements, a conference

committee from both houses meets to work out differences

G. Step 6- Signing 1. President can sign2. President can veto (Congress can override

with 2/3 but this is rare)3. President can do nothing

a. If Congress is in session, bill passesb. If not, it is pocket vetoed

Senate Committees

• Group 1: Environment and Public Works • Group 2: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs • Group 3: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions • Group 4: Finance• Group 5: Homeland Security and Governmental

Affairs • Group 6: Commerce, Science, and Transportation • Group 7: Foreign Relations• Group 8: Budget• Group 9: Energy & Natural Resources

Come up with an idea of a bill that you think should be passed by Congress.

• Brainstorm first on what type of bill you would like to propose. Everyone needs to participate in the bill making process

• There will need to be a – Secretary: who writes up the bill– Reader: Reads sample bills– Runner: Gets all material & puts all

material away.– Team Captain: Makes sure everyone is

on task and delegates responsibilities