How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

““There are two things you There are two things you shouldn’t see being made: shouldn’t see being made:

sausages and laws.” sausages and laws.”

What is a bill?What is a bill?

• A bill is a written idea for a law.A bill is a written idea for a law.• A bill can be started in either house A bill can be started in either house

of Congress, except revenue bills.of Congress, except revenue bills.• Since both houses must pass a bill, Since both houses must pass a bill,

only only 3%3% of all bills become laws. of all bills become laws.

• It is a very long, involved process. It is a very long, involved process. WhyWhy is it that way? is it that way?

House of OriginHouse of Origin

Bill is introduced.Bill is introduced.

• Gets numbered.Gets numbered.

• Gets a reading.Gets a reading.

Only a Only a member of member of Congress may Congress may submit a bill. submit a bill. But any citizen But any citizen can suggest a can suggest a bill to him/her.bill to him/her.

Bill goes to Bill goes to committee.committee.

Because there is Because there is so much to do, so much to do, the work of the work of Congress is Congress is divided up.divided up.

What are some committees?What are some committees?

• AppropriationsAppropriations

• BudgetBudget

• Armed ServicesArmed Services

• LaborLabor

• Foreign AffairsForeign Affairs

• JudiciaryJudiciary

• Where money is spentWhere money is spent

• How money is spentHow money is spent

• Defense, militaryDefense, military

• Working conditions…Working conditions…

• Relations with other Relations with other countriescountries

• Courts, impeachmentCourts, impeachment

Leaders of committees are very Leaders of committees are very powerful members of Congress.powerful members of Congress.

Who are the chairpersons? Two key Who are the chairpersons? Two key qualifications:qualifications:

• Member of majority partyMember of majority party..

• Seniority.Seniority.

Bill goes to Bill goes to committee.committee.

Bill is considered by Bill is considered by a subcommittee.a subcommittee.

Because there is Because there is so much to do, so much to do, the work of the work of Congress is Congress is divided up.divided up.

What happens in a What happens in a subcommittee?subcommittee?

• It is where it is It is where it is investigated most investigated most thoroughlythoroughly..

• It is here where it lives or dies. It is here where it lives or dies. This is the most critical stage.This is the most critical stage.

• A bill may be in subcommittee A bill may be in subcommittee from 6 months to a full year.from 6 months to a full year.

NoNo

Goes back to writer…Goes back to writer…

YesYes

Whole Whole committee committee votesvotes

Full house Full house for votefor vote

Put on Put on calendarcalendar

Must be a Must be a quorumquorum present present

(majority)(majority)

NoNo

Goes back to committee…Goes back to committee…

YesYes

Full houseFull house

To pass a bill a To pass a bill a mere majority mere majority

is requiredis required

They can They can debate and debate and

vote on vote on amendmentsamendments

*

Final Final version of version of

billbill

NoNo

YesYes

They They tootoo must pass it for must pass it for it to become a law!it to become a law!

Goes to other Goes to other house for its house for its considerationconsideration *

What are some of the things What are some of the things people do in all this?people do in all this?

• First of all, each house has First of all, each house has leadership positions to leadership positions to guide legislation.guide legislation.

• Since there are so many Since there are so many members of Congress and members of Congress and so much needs to get done, so much needs to get done, these people are very these people are very powerful!powerful!

Who are they?Who are they?

HouseHouse

• The SpeakerThe Speaker

• Majority LeaderMajority Leader

• Minority LeaderMinority Leader

• Majority WhipMajority Whip

• Minority WhipMinority Whip

• Dennis Hastert (R-Il)Dennis Hastert (R-Il)

• Tom DeLay (R-Tx)Tom DeLay (R-Tx)

• Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca)Nancy Pelosi (D-Ca)

• Roy Blunt (R-Mn)Roy Blunt (R-Mn)

• Steny Hoyer (D-Md)Steny Hoyer (D-Md)

Who are they?Who are they?

SenateSenate

• The PresidentThe President

• Pres Pro TempPres Pro Temp

• Majority LeaderMajority Leader

• Minority LeaderMinority Leader

• Dick Cheney (V.P.)Dick Cheney (V.P.)

• Ted Stevens (R-Ak)Ted Stevens (R-Ak)

• Bill Frist (R-Tn)Bill Frist (R-Tn)

• Tom Daschle (D-SD)Tom Daschle (D-SD)

Debate in the HouseDebate in the House

• Dictated by the Dictated by the Speaker and the Rules Speaker and the Rules Committee.Committee.

• Procedures for debate Procedures for debate and amendments is and amendments is much more strict and much more strict and limited. limited.

Debate in the SenateDebate in the Senate

• The Senate is considered “the most The Senate is considered “the most deliberative body in the world.”deliberative body in the world.”

• This means they feel that if a law This means they feel that if a law is to be as good as it must be, then is to be as good as it must be, then all the talking about it should be all the talking about it should be allowed, without limit, allowed, without limit, beforebefore it is it is considered for a vote. considered for a vote.

Debate in the SenateDebate in the Senate

• What do you think a clever Senator What do you think a clever Senator might do, then, if he doesn’t like a might do, then, if he doesn’t like a bill and knows he is in the bill and knows he is in the minority?minority?

•He can filibuster!He can filibuster!

If the bill passes If the bill passes bothboth houses… houses…

Then it goes to the Then it goes to the president’s desk!president’s desk!

There, There, fourfour things things can happen…can happen…

If the bill passes both houses…If the bill passes both houses…

And if, And if, if by if by chancechance, the , the

president president signs itsigns it,,

then… then… then…then…

Oh boy oh boy oh boy…

Congratulations, Bill, Congratulations, Bill, you’re now a Law!you’re now a Law!