How A Bill Becomes a How A Bill Becomes a LawLaw

Step 1Step 1

Every Bill starts Every Bill starts out as an ideaout as an idea

These ideas can These ideas can come from come from CongressCongress, , private private citizenscitizens or or from the from the White HouseWhite House

Special Interest Special Interest Groups Groups may also try may also try to influence Congress to influence Congress to write a Billto write a Bill

Step 2Step 2

Every Bill must start Every Bill must start out and be out and be introducedintroduced by a by a CongressmanCongressman – – either a Senator or a either a Senator or a House MemberHouse Member

Every Bill is given a Every Bill is given a title and number title and number when it is when it is introduced – introduced – H.R.1H.R.1 or or S.1S.1

Step 3Step 3

After it is After it is introduced, each introduced, each Bill is then Bill is then sent sent to the standing to the standing committeecommittee that that seems most seems most qualified to qualified to handle it.handle it.

Step 4Step 4

Committees receive Committees receive hundreds of Bills hundreds of Bills and they decide the and they decide the lifelife or or deathdeath of of these billsthese bills

Those that hold Those that hold merit are merit are sent to a sent to a subcommittee to subcommittee to researchresearch (public (public hearings may be hearings may be held)held)

Step 5Step 5

The The subcommittee subcommittee will report to the will report to the standing standing committeecommittee who will who will decide if the Bill decide if the Bill shouldshould– Pass without changesPass without changes– Have changes and Have changes and

pass it alongpass it along– Replace the Bill with a Replace the Bill with a

alternative onealternative one– Kill the BillKill the Bill

Step 6Step 6

If a Bill is approved by If a Bill is approved by the committee, then it is the committee, then it is ready for ready for consideration consideration by the full House or by the full House or the Senatethe Senate..

When Bills reach the When Bills reach the floor, the members argue floor, the members argue their their prospros and and conscons– The Senate (only) can The Senate (only) can

add add ridersriders– The Senate also allows The Senate also allows

filibustersfilibusters which can only which can only be stopped by a 3/5ths be stopped by a 3/5ths vote for vote for cloturecloture

Step 7Step 7

When When members of members of Congress are ready to Congress are ready to votevote they may do so by they may do so by– Voice VoteVoice Vote– Standing VoteStanding Vote– Roll-call or today’s Roll-call or today’s

Computerized VoteComputerized Vote

– A simple A simple majoritymajority is all is all that is needed to pass a that is needed to pass a Bill. If either house refuses Bill. If either house refuses to pass it, it diesto pass it, it dies

– The Bill must be passed in The Bill must be passed in identical formats in both identical formats in both houses – conference houses – conference committees may be committees may be neededneeded

Step 8Step 8

Presidential ActionPresidential Action is the final stepis the final step– Veto: refuse to signVeto: refuse to sign

Congress can Congress can override the veto with override the veto with a 2/3rds vote in each a 2/3rds vote in each house – very unlikelyhouse – very unlikely

– Sign the Bill into LawSign the Bill into Law– Do nothing for 10 daysDo nothing for 10 days

In session – the Bill In session – the Bill becomes a Lawbecomes a Law

Out of session – the Out of session – the Bill dies – POCKET Bill dies – POCKET VETOVETO

The EndThe End