How a Bill Becomes a Law

1
How a Bill Becomes a Law
2
Introduction

• A bill can be introduced in either house

3
When it is introduced in the house

• The Representative drops the bill in the hopper
• The Speaker of the House assigns the bill to a
  committee for study

• In committee the bill could be
• Tabled (laid aside)
• Reported out to the entire House unchanged
• Revised and released for consideration

4
Passing the House

• The bill is debated according to the rules of
  debate established by the Rules Committee
• A bill could be amended, sent back to committee,
  or fail
• If the bill passes with a majority it is passed
  along to the Senate

5
The Senate

• The presiding officer of the Senate sends the
  bill to committee

• In committee the bill could be
• Tabled (laid aside)
• Reported out to the entire House unchanged
• Revised and released for consideration

6
Passing the Senate

• A bill may simply fail to get a majority of votes
• An amended bill will go to a conference committee
• If an unchanged bill passes it goes to the
  President

• .

7
The Filibuster

• The Senate can conduct other business during a
  filibuster
• 60 votes are needed for cloture (1916-1977 2/3 of
  senators before that there was no limit)

8
The Conference Committee

• Also known as a joint committee
• Committee is made up of members of both the House
  and the Senate

9
The Final Vote

• The process begins anew
• Both houses must pass identical versions of the
  bill
• Once identical versions are passed in both houses
  the bill is given to the President

10
Presidential Approval

• The President may sign the bill into law
• The President may veto the bill
• The President may do nothing
• If Congress is in session, the unsigned bill
  becomes law after 10 days
• If Congress is not in session at the end of 10
  days, the bill suffers a pocket veto

11
The Presidential Veto

• Can be overridden by Congress with 2/3 of the
  vote
• 67 Senators
• 290 Representatives
• 7 presidents never vetoed a bill

• Franklin Roosevelt used the most vetoes ever-635