How a Bill Become a Law

By Matthew Opperman

Rationale: This Lesson is designed to teach and reinforce the law making

process. It is important for students to learn this information in order to take a active role in government. The purpose is to introduce the law making process

and the steps that are taken before a bill becomes a law.

Goal

To help students grasp the ideas the make up the law making process.

Demonstrate knowledge of each the steps in the law making process.

Objectives

Recognize and understand the different steps that need to be taken before a bill becomes a law.Explain the importance of each step and be able to put the different steps in order of occurrence.Understand the debating and tedious process that goes in to making a law.Demonstrate competency by working in cooperative groups to create their interpretations of a proposed bill.

Three Branches of Government

The Executive Branch/ President, Governor

The Legislative Branch/ Congress, Law Making

The Judicial Branch/ Supreme Court, Judges

Houses of Congress

House of Representatives

Number per StateBased on States Population

Coincides with Electoral College Votes

United States Senate

Two per StateNo Matter What the Population

100 Senators

How a Bill is Introduced

Introduced to Committee

Bill Sponsored by Representative or Senator

Bill Sent to Committee

Chair of Committee Appointed

Bill is Revised until Committee is Satisfied

Once Bill is Agreed Upon Sent to Floor of Senate or House.

Bill on the Floor

The Bill Must be Passed by a Majority Vote in Both HousesIf a Majority Vote is not Achieved the Bill is Sent Back to Committee in House of OriginThe Bill can also Die on the Floor

President’s Options

He can Sign the Bill and it Then Becomes Law.

He can Veto the Bill

He can Let the Bill Sit on his Desk for Ten Days the Bill then Becomes Law.

U.S. Constitution

Section 7 Article 2

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall before it becomes a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; if he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to Pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become law.

But in all such Cases the Votes of both Houses shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the Names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the Journal of each House respectively. If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days( Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevents its Return, in which case it shall not be a Law.  

U.S. Constitution (continued)Section 7 Article 2

Vetoed Bills

Congress can Override a Presidential Veto

2/3rds Vote is Needed in Both Houses to Override the Veto.

Pocket Veto

President can the bill sit for ten days while Congress is not In Session.

The Bill then dies.

Related Web Sites

www.whitehouse.gov

www.uscongress.gov

www.ussenate.gov

The End

Always Take a Active Role in Government.