Congress II

I. Intro

II. From a bill to a law

Six Steps

IV. Conc.

Key Terms• Hearing• Mark-up• Filibuster• Cloture• Earmarking (Pork-

Barrel Projects)

For A Bill To Become Law:

• A majority vote of support is needed in both the House & Senate.

• The House & Senate version of the bill must be exactly the same.

Step One: Introduction of a Bill

House Senate President

Given a number Read out-loud Referred to

Committee

Given a number Read out-loud Referred to

Committee

Can propose legislation, but no actual power

Step One

HR # 755

1.Raise the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour.

Step Two: In Committee

House Senate President

Hearings & Markup

Recommended action: pass or kill

Rules for debate are set

Hearings & Markup

Recommended action: pass or kill

No specific power or authority

Step Two: In Committee

Baseball players testifying at a Congressional Hearing

A bill is literally “marked-up” with its changes

Tobacco Executives Testifying

Step Two: In Committee

HR # 755

1.Raise the minimum wage to $10.00 per hour. 9.00

2.Overtime for people working over 40 hours per week is $20.00 per hour.

Based on the testimony at the hearings, the original bill is “marked-up” or modified.

Step Three: On the Floor(Full House/Senate)

House Senate President

Debate Earmarking Vote-(majority)

Debate Earmarking Vote-(majority)

No specific power or authority

Filibuster (Senate Only)

• One Senator (or a group) engage(s) in continuous speech, bringing to a halt ALL Senate activity.

• Only if they:– Keep talking– Remain standing

Today, they usually just “talk” an issue to death{

• Cloture Vote: Ends a filibuster (60 votes are required).

Filibuster

Jimmy Stewart Strom Thurmond

(24 hours & 18 minutes)

Ear-marking or Pork-Barrel Projects

• Funding for a specific project in a member’s district; it brings money and/or jobs.

Press Conference at WSCC(11/29/04)

WSCC received $400,000 to retrain displaced workers

HR # 755

1.Raise the minimum wage to $9.00 per hour.

2.Overtime for people working over 40 hours per week is $20.00 per hour.

SB # 130

1.Raise the minimum wage to $11.00 per hour.

2.Overtime for people working over 40 hours per week is $15.00 per hour.

Step Four: In Conference

House Senate President

Committee made up of House & Senate members must reach a compromise on different versions

No specific power or authority

Step Four: Conference

HR # 755

1.Raise the minimum wage to $9.00 per hour.

2.Overtime for people working over 40 hours per week is $20.00 per hour.

SB # 130

1.Raise the minimum wage to $11.00 per hour.

2.Overtime for people working over 40 hours per week is $15.00 per hour.

$10.00 $10.00

$17.50 $17.50

Step Five: Vote on Compromise

House Senate President

Compromise version is accepted by majority of House

Compromise version is accepted by majority of Senate

No specific power or authority

Step Six: Sent to the President

House Senate President

Veto Override (if necessary by a 2/3 vote)

Veto Override (if necessary by a 2/3 vote)

Signs, vetoes or does nothing

Congress II

I. Intro

II. From a bill to a law

Six Steps

IV. Conc.

Key Terms• Mark-up• Filibuster• Cloture• Earmarking (Pork-

Barrel Projects)