How a Bill Becomes a Law

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How a Bill Becomes a Law
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law
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OBJECTIVES
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Where do ideas for bills originate?
• What happens to a bill once it is introduced in
  each house of Congress?
• Once a bill is passed by both houses, what
  actions can the president take regarding the bill?

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The Idea for a Bill Begins
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Each year the Senate and the House consider
  thousands of bills
• Bills may be introduced in either house
• Expect for appropriation bills or bill approving
  the spending of money
• Every bill must be passed by both houses of
  Congress
• A law is also known as an act

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The Making of a Law
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law
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Ideas for bills originate from
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• U.S. citizens --- when a large number of
  constituents request a particular law, their
  congressmen will usually introduce it
• Organized groups Some groups might ask Congress
  to introduce bill (businesspeople and labor
  groups) seeking to protect or advance their
  interests
• Committees of Congressinvestigating committees
  determine needs for new laws
• Members of Congressexperts in certain fields
  propose new laws
• The presidentoften introduces ideas for laws in
  the State of the Union Address - the president
  had a great influence on bills

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Bills introduced in either house of Congress
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• are read and placed in the Congressional Record.
• are sent to a standing committee to be studied.
• receive hearings by the committees and are
  amended.
• The committee majority can recommend that a bill
  be passed.
• Bills reported out of committee are placed on the
  calendar for debate.
• The bill is voted on and sent to the other house
  of Congress for consideration.
• Approved bills are sent to the president.

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The Bill is introduced in the House
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• The bill is assigned by the speaker of the house
  to a house committee (standing committee)
• Bills are debated in committee
• They hold hearings to consider expert opinions on
  the bill

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The House Considers the Bill
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• The bill is placed on the house calendar
• The speaker of the house determines when or if a
  bill will reach the floor
• The House Rules Committee decides how much time
  will be given to debate this bill
• During the debate members speak in favor or
  against the bill
• Members vote when they have quorum or majority of
  the members present
• If it passes the majority vote it goes to the
  Senate
• A roll call vote can be ask for, in which members
  name is read and he or she says yes or no on the
  bill

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The Senate Acts on the Bill
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• In the Senate, the bill goes through the same
  process as the House of Representatives
• There are several techniques used during debate
  in both houses
• The filibuster is making a lengthy speech that
  doesnt leave time for a vote
• A cloture motion and end debate and call for a
  vote
• If the Senate gets a majority approval vote, the
  bill goes to the president

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Political Vocabulary
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law
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Actions of the president regarding a bill
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law

• sign the bill and declare it a law
• veto the bill and send it back to Congress
• hold the bill for 10 days, when it becomes a law
  or is killed by pocket veto
• Congress can override a presidents veto with a
  2/3 vote of both houses

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Lawmaking (SD)
Section 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law