Chapter 6.4Chapter 6.4How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

Types of BillsTypes of Bills

Of the more than 10,000 bills introduced Of the more than 10,000 bills introduced each congressional term, only several each congressional term, only several hundred become law.hundred become law.

Bills fall into two categories. Bills fall into two categories. Private billsPrivate bills concern individual people or places. concern individual people or places. Public billsPublic bills apply to the entire nation and apply to the entire nation and involve general matters like taxation, civil involve general matters like taxation, civil rights or terrorism.rights or terrorism.

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Congress also considers different kinds of Congress also considers different kinds of resolutions, or formal statements resolutions, or formal statements expressing lawmakers’ opinions or expressing lawmakers’ opinions or decisions. Many resolutions do not have decisions. Many resolutions do not have the force of law. the force of law. Joint resolutionsJoint resolutions are are passed by both houses of Congress and passed by both houses of Congress and do become law if signed by the president.do become law if signed by the president.

From Bill to LawFrom Bill to Law

Ideas from bills come from members of Ideas from bills come from members of Congress, citizens and the White House. Other Congress, citizens and the White House. Other bills are suggested by bills are suggested by special-interest groupsspecial-interest groups, , or organizations of people with some common or organizations of people with some common interest who try to influence gov’t decisions.interest who try to influence gov’t decisions.

Only senators and representatives may Only senators and representatives may introduce bills in Congress. Every bill is given a introduce bills in Congress. Every bill is given a title and number, and is then sent to an title and number, and is then sent to an appropriate standing committee.appropriate standing committee.

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The committee chairperson decides which The committee chairperson decides which bills get ignored and which get studied. bills get ignored and which get studied. Those that merit attention are often Those that merit attention are often researched by a subcommittee. Experts researched by a subcommittee. Experts and citizens may voice opinions about a and citizens may voice opinions about a bill in public hearings or written bill in public hearings or written statements.statements.

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Standing committees can 1) pass the bill Standing committees can 1) pass the bill without change, 2) make changes and without change, 2) make changes and suggest that the bill be passed, 3) replace suggest that the bill be passed, 3) replace the bill with an alternative, 4) pigeonhole the bill with an alternative, 4) pigeonhole the bill (ignore it and let it die), or 5) kill the the bill (ignore it and let it die), or 5) kill the bill by majority vote. When a committee is bill by majority vote. When a committee is against a bill, it almost never becomes against a bill, it almost never becomes law.law.

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Bills approved in committee are put on the Bills approved in committee are put on the schedules to be considered by the full schedules to be considered by the full House or Senate. The Senate usually House or Senate. The Senate usually takes up bills in the order listed. In the takes up bills in the order listed. In the House, the Rules Committee can give House, the Rules Committee can give priority to some bills and not let others get priority to some bills and not let others get to the floor.to the floor.

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When bills reach the floor, members When bills reach the floor, members debate the pros and cons. The House debate the pros and cons. The House accepts only relevant amendments. The accepts only relevant amendments. The Senate allows Senate allows ridersriders – completely – completely unrelated amendments – to be tacked unrelated amendments – to be tacked onto the bill.onto the bill.

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The House Rules Committee puts time limits on The House Rules Committee puts time limits on the discussion. Senators may speak as long as the discussion. Senators may speak as long as they like and need not even address the topic at they like and need not even address the topic at hand. Sometimes they hand. Sometimes they filibusterfilibuster, or talk a bill to , or talk a bill to death. A 3/5ths vote for death. A 3/5ths vote for cloturecloture can end a can end a filibuster.filibuster.

In a simple In a simple voice votevoice vote, those in favor say “yea” , those in favor say “yea” and those against say “no”. In a and those against say “no”. In a standing votestanding vote, , those in favor stand to be counted and then those in favor stand to be counted and then those against stand.those against stand.

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The House uses a computerized voting The House uses a computerized voting system that records each representative’s system that records each representative’s vote. Senators voice their votes in turn as vote. Senators voice their votes in turn as an official records them in a an official records them in a roll-call voteroll-call vote..

A simple majority of members present A simple majority of members present passes a bill. After passing one house, passes a bill. After passing one house, the bill then goes to the other. If either the bill then goes to the other. If either house rejects the bill, it dies.house rejects the bill, it dies.

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Both houses must pass an identical bill. If Both houses must pass an identical bill. If either changes the bill it receives from the either changes the bill it receives from the other house, a conference committee is other house, a conference committee is formed to work out the differences. The formed to work out the differences. The House and Senate must then either accept House and Senate must then either accept the revised bill as is or completely reject it.the revised bill as is or completely reject it.

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After a bill passes both houses, it goes to After a bill passes both houses, it goes to the president. The president may sign it the president. The president may sign it into law, into law, vetoveto (or refuse to sign) it, or do (or refuse to sign) it, or do nothing for 10 days. Then if Congress is nothing for 10 days. Then if Congress is in session, the bill becomes law without in session, the bill becomes law without the president’s signature. If Congress had the president’s signature. If Congress had adjourned, the bill dies. Killing a bill this adjourned, the bill dies. Killing a bill this way is called a way is called a pocket vetopocket veto. Congress . Congress can override a veto with a 2/3rds vote of can override a veto with a 2/3rds vote of each house.each house.