How It Starts

-starts as an idea

-Who has the idea?

Split Process

-a new bill must pass both parts ofCongress

-the bill must also pass both parts inexactly the same form

Becoming a Bill

-must be sponsored by a member ofCongress

-put in a draft form

-introduced into Congress

Committee

-bill is assigned to a committee

-committee has 3 options

-send bill to next stage

-kill the bill

-pigeonhole the bill-- Action thatplaces a bill to the side without avote

Sub-Committee

-studies the bill in-depth

-public hearings-- Meetings held bylegislative committees in order toallow public comments andinformation to be given tolegislative committees

-same 3 options

Committee

-back to full committee

-committee votes to send bill to fullHouse or Senate

House or Senate

-Bill is read to the Full House orSenate for the first time

-Party Leaders try to scheduledebate time for bill

-Members research the merits ofthe bill

-Riders may be attached

-additional measures which are notrelated to the original bill

Debate

-members get to voice their opinionson the bill

-time is often limited in debates inthe House

-Senate has no time limits on theirdebate-

-filibuster

-cloture vote

-each party is given equalopportunity to speak about the bill

Debate

-members get to voice their opinionson the bill

-time is often limited in debates inthe House

-Senate has no time limits on theirdebate-

-filibuster

-cloture vote

-each party is given equalopportunity to speak about the bill

Voting

-after debate a vote is scheduled

-3 types of votes

voice

standing

roll-call—

Type of Congressional vote whereeach legislator is called out and avote recorded—mostly doneelectronically today

Same Bill Must Pass

-both parts of Congress must passthe same bill

-if bill is not the same a conferencecommittee will meet

-Special committee made up oflegislators from the House andSenate who try to work outdifferences in bill that passedboth houses in different forms

-bill must be voted on in new form

Sent to President

-4 options

-sign it into law

-pocket veto-- Process where thePresident does not sign a bill andCongress has adjourned and afterten days the bills dies rather thanbecoming law

-veto the bill

-not sign the bill

becomes law in 10 days

Over-Riding a Veto

-if vetoed Congress can override theveto

-2/3 vote required in each house tooverride

-very difficult to achieve