5.4: How a Bill Becomes a Law (7:40) - MR. REED'S WEBSITE · The President Acts on the Bill 1. Sign...
Transcript of 5.4: How a Bill Becomes a Law (7:40) - MR. REED'S WEBSITE · The President Acts on the Bill 1. Sign...
5.4: How a Bill Becomes a Law
(7:40)
How a Bill Begins
The House and the Senate Consider the Bill
The President Acts on the Bill
Vocabulary
bill
appropriation bill
act
filibuster
cloture
veto
pocket veto
How a Bill Begins
Bill- proposed law
long and difficult process
helps ensure that the laws are good ones
Congress Considers Legislation
Can start in either the House or Senate An appropriation bill,
bill approving the spending of money, must begin in the House
Must be approved by both houses
President signs into law, also known as an act
Sources of Legislation
Ideas for bills come from US citizens,
organized groups, congressional
committees, members of Congress, and
the president
Citizens in a representatives’ district are
known as constituents
President outlines ideas for laws in his
State of the Union address
The House and the Senate Consider
the Bill
Assigned letters and a number (HR1215)
HR is where it started
1215 is the place among bills introduced
Goes into Congressional Record- a
publication that covers daily business
The Bill is Sent to Committee
A standing committee is a permanent
congressional committee that meets
regularly
Call witnesses to testify for and against bill
The House Acts on the Bill
Speaker of the House determines when and where a bill will be debated
House Rules Committee decides how much time to debate bill
When all discussion is finished, the bill as a whole is voted on
A quorum- majority of the members- must be present in order to do business
If bill passes House sent to the Senate
The Senate Acts on the Bill
Same process as House except unlimited
amount of time to talk
Filibuster- talking the bill to death
Limits can be placed if approved by 3/5
Cloture- ending debate and voting
Final Bill is Sent to the President
A conference committee made up of
senators and representatives work to
reach a compromise on the bill
Then sent to president
The President Acts on the Bill
1. Sign and declare law
2. Veto: sent back to
Congress with message
of why it was rejected
3. Keep for 10 days
Congress in session: no signature- becomes
law
Not in session: bill is killed by pocket veto
Do not use pocket veto often
Congress can override a presidential veto
with 2/3 vote of both houses
President may offer legislation, and then
request, suggest, or demand Congress
pass it
Making a Law: Long and Involved
Process may be long, a lot of work, and
slow but provides making necessary laws
and preventing hasty legislation
Ensures bills signed into law are important
and useful