How a Good Idea Becomes a Law!

1
How a Good Idea Becomes a Law!

• A Quick Overview on the Process of a How a Bill
  Becomes a Law.
• With Assistance from Bill . . .

Prepared by the Federation for Community Schools
with materials from
2
This is the story of Bill, and how this bill
becomes a law in Washington D.C.
Any idea for a bill may come from anybody, but
only a member of Congress, a U.S. Senator or U.S.
House of Representative, can introduce a bill in
Congress.
3
U.S. representatives sponsor bills that are
important to them and their constituents. Thats
why they need to hear from you!
Bill is introduced during session and assigned a
bill number. House bills begin with H.R., and
Senate bills begin with S. Bill is off for its
first reading, which means the bills title is
read on the House Floor and sent on to the
appropriate subject committee.
4
Bill is sent to the appropriate committee such as
education and the workforce. The bill is put on
the committees calendar. The committee debates
and marks up the proposed bill. Then, the
committee votes on the bill.
Bill is then sent to a subcommittee for review.
Subcommittees may hold hearings to get expert
views. If the subcommittee finds the bill
relevant, it will make revisions and send back to
same full committee where it started.
5
Bill is reported, which means it is released from
committee and sent to the House Floor for
consideration by all house members.
Bill gets called to the House Floor for
consideration, which means that debate begins.
After the debate, a second reading occurs, during
which amendments may be made. Bill is read for a
third time. Now, its time to vote on Bill!
6
Bill is read by title only, and the voting
begins! Members in attendance may vote Yea,
Nay, or Present (which means they are there
but not in favor or opposed). If the bill passes,
its on to the Senate.
Now, Bill is in the Senate. If the Senate likes
Bill, it will be sent to the appropriate
committee for study and markup. If Bill
proceeds through Senate, members will vote to
pass or not pass it.
7
If Bill passes the U.S. House and Senate, its
off to the President who can Sign it into law
Veto the bill Take no action when Congress is
in session which will make the bill law after ten
days or, Take no action when Congress adjourns
which will kill the bill.
Bill becomes a law Hurrah! If the President
signs the bill or takes no action while Congress
is in session or If Congress overrides a
presidential veto
8
If the President vetoes Bill, it returns to the
House of origin. If there is enough objection
in that House to the Presidents veto, a vote is
taken to override the veto.
A veto override vote is taken. If the House and
Senate override votes are two-thirds or greater,
then the veto is overridden and Bill becomes law.
If not, the bill dies.
9
When You Can Get Involved
There are several times during this legislative
process of Bill becoming a law where you, a
citizen and community school expert, can make a
difference. Here they are . . .
? Put the idea in the head of your Congressional
representative that becomes a bill! ? Every bill
needs an expert to become a law, and you can be
one of those experts. ? When a bill gets to the
full house floor for a vote, contact your
Congressional representative to tell him/her
your opinion on the bill. ? If your bill makes it
through one of the U.S. Congressional bodies,
Senate or House, its off to the other one. So
get ready to contact this Congressional. ? Let
the President know how you feel about the bill.
10
Get Involved!Make a Difference!You Have Much to
Offer!
Please visit the Federation for Community Schools
website to see current opportunities for your
participation in this process. The Federation
for Community Schools promotes policies that
support community schools throughout Illinois.
1253 S. Hasted, Suite 310, Chicago, IL
60607 www.ilcommunityschools.org