How a Bill Becomes a Law

1
How a Bill Becomes a Law

• Thousands of bills are introduced each session,
  few become law.

2
Bills

• Two types.
• Private Bills. Deal with individual people or
  places.
• 2. Public Bills. Deal with general matters that
  apply to the entire nation.

3
Resolutions

• Deal with unusual or temporary matters.

4
Simple Resolution

• Covers internal matters affecting only one house
  such as a new rule or procedure.

5
Joint Resolution

• Passed by both houses, the presidents signature
  gives it the force of law.
• Correct an error in a law.
• Appropriate money for a special purpose.
• Propose a constitutional amendment.

6
Concurrent Resolution

• Covers mattes requiring the action of both
  houses, but does not require the presidents
  signature.
• Set date for the adjournment of Congress.
• Express Congresss opinion on an issue.

7
Bill Introduction

• House. Representatives drop bills in the hopper
  near the clerks desk.
• Senate. Senate presiding officer recognizes
  senators that formally introduce bills.

8
First Reading

• Bills introduced in Congress are given a title
  and number, then printed and distributed to
  lawmakers.
• First bill introduced in the Senate is designated
  S.1.
• First bill introduced in the House is designated
  H.R.1.

9
Committee Action

• New bills are sent to committees that deal with
  their subject matter.
• Committee chairpersons may send bills to
  subcommittees for further action.
• Bill Rejection. Committee members can pigeonhole
  bills and let them die or they can kill bills by
  a majority vote.

10
Accepting a Bill

• Committees can
• Rewrite a bill.
• Make changes to a bill.
• 3. Recommend a bill be adopted as is.

11
Committee Hearings

• When a committee decides to act on a bill,
  hearings are held.
• Hearings are supposed to be an opportunity to
  gather information.
• Most detailed information comes from committee
  staff research.

12
Mark-Up Session

• After hearings, a committee meets to decide what
  changes to make to a bill.
• Committee members go through a bill section by
  section.
• A majority is required for changes to be made to
  a bill.

13
Reporting a Bill

• After changes have been made, the committee votes
  to either kill or report a bill.
• To report means send the bill to the House or
  Senate for action.
• A written report is prepared explaining the
  committees actions.
• Committee reports may recommend passage of the
  bill or report it unfavorably.

14
Floor Action

• 2nd Reading. A clerk reads the bill section by
  section. Lawmakers can propose an amendment
  during floor debate.
• Amendments can be added unless the House adopts a
  closed rule meaning no amendments may be adopted
  during floor debate.
• Amendments are added only if a majority present
  approves them.

15
Bill Voting

• After floor debate, bills are ready for a vote.
• Quorum must be present.
• 3rd Reading. Bills are read and a vote is taken
  by
• voice vote.
• standing vote.
• roll-call vote.
• 4. electronic vote ( House only).

16
Final Steps

• Bills must pass both houses in identical form.
• Conference Committee. Members from both houses
  that worked on the bill get together and work
  out the differences.
• Majority of the conference committee draft the
  final bill called a conference report and submit
  it to each house for final action.

17
Presidential Action

• After both houses have approved a bill in
  identical form, it is sent to the president.
• The president can
• 1. Sign the bill into law.
• Keep the bill for 10 days without signing it and
  it becomes law.
• Reject the bill with a veto.
• 4. Reject the bill with a pocket veto during the
  last 10 days Congress is in session.

18
Line-Item Veto

• Allows a leader to reject specific lines or items
  in a bill while accepting the main body of the
  legislation.