How Does a Bill Become a Law

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How Does a Bill Become a Law?

• By Robyn Hawley
• ED 639

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Goal

• The high school senior government student will
  understand the legislative process of our federal
  government, which will prepare them to be
  knowledgeable and active citizens in our
  government and society.

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Objectives

• Explain the steps involved in the process of a
  bill becoming a law.
• Find a bill that Congress is currently working on
  and cite the important parts and status of the
  bill.

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Materials

• Computer
• LCD Projector
• Internet Access
• Books
• Congressional Research Service Reports
• Congressional Quarterly
• Videotapes
• Congressional Record

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Basic Information

• Majority of laws originate in the House of
  Representatives
• 1997-1998 7,529 bills were introduced in
  Congress, 4,874 were introduced in the House of
  Representatives
• House of Representatives is the only body where
  Revenue and Appropriation Bills may be
  introduced.

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Key Steps

• Introduction of a Bill
• Bill is Referred to House Committee
• Bill is Referred to Sub-Committee
• Bill is Reported by Full Committee
• House Debate Vote on Passage
• Referral to Second Chamber
• Conference Committee
• Final Action

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Flowchart
Bill Introduced in House
Bill Introduced in Senate
Referred to Senate Committee
Referred to House Committee
Referred to Sub-Committee
Referred to Sub-Committee
Reported by Full Committee
Reported by Full Committee
Rules Committee Action
House Debate Vote on Passage
Senate Debate Vote on Passage
Conference Action
Bill is Signed or Vetoed
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Introduction of a Bill

• Bill is introduced by placing it in a special box
  called a hopper.
• The Member introducing the bill is known as the
  sponsor.
• An unlimited number of Members may co-sponsor a
  bill.
• The draft of the bill is printed in the
  Congressional Record.

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Bill is Referred to Committee

• Bill may be referred to multiple committees due
  to its provisions.
• Seek input from relevant departments and agencies
  about this bill.
• Bill is submitted to the GAO to create an
  official report.
• Committee may table the bill, if it is decided
  that the bill is unnecessary.
• Most often, the bill is sent to the sub-committee
  for review.

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Bill is Referred to Sub-Committee

• Hearings
• Give experts, supporters and opponents a chance
  to voice their opinions.
• Markup
• Vote is taken to determine action
• Report the bill favorably to the full committee
  with amendment or without.
• Report the bill unfavorably to the full
  committee.
• Report the bill without recommendation.
• Suggest to the full committee to table it.

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Bill is Reported by Full Committee

• Votes on bill after it is debated/amended.
• If a bill includes many amendments, the committee
  may introduce a clean bill.
• When a bill is ordered reported, a committee
  report is written to explain the provisions of
  the bill.
• The reported bill is placed on one of the House
  Calendars.
• The bill is then sent to the House floor for
  consideration.

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House Debate Vote on Passage

• Members debate the bill by following the Rules of
  the House.
• Following debate, the second reading of the bill
  begins. Amendments may be offered at this time.
• Debate is allowed pertaining to the amendments.
• Finally, the bill is put to a vote in the House
  and is read a third time.

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Referral to Second Chamber

• Bill is sent to a Senate committee for study or
  markup.
• Members may choose to ignore the bill or the bill
  will go to the Senate floor for debate.
• If bill is considered, Members may vote to pass
  or not to pass the bill.
• If the bill passes with different language than
  the House version, it must be sent to the
  Conference Committee.

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Conference Committee

• Speaker of the House and Presiding Officer of the
  Senate appoint conferees, supporters of the bill.
• Conferees may be from different political
  parties.
• Each House has only one vote decided by the
  majority of their conferees.

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Conference Committee Report

• When the committee has reached complete agreement
  on a bill, they put their recommendations in a
  report that is distributed to each House.
• Each House will vote on bill in its entirety. No
  amendments are allowed to be added.

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Final Action

• President may sign the bill into law.
• If President takes no action for 10 days and
  Congress is in session, the bill becomes law.
• Pocket Veto President takes no action and
  Congress has adjourned its session.
• President vetoes the bill.
• Objections are read and debated in the House
  about the bill.
• If the House chooses not to vote, the bill is
  stalled.
• If the House wishes to override the veto a
  two-thirds or greater vote is needed in both
  Houses.

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Review

• What motive is there for a Congressperson to
  sponsor a bill?
• Can you explain what happens when a bill is sent
  to the Conference Committee?
• What happens if both the House and the Senate
  pass the bill, but the
• President vetoes the bill?

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Activity 1

• Library of Congress Thomas

Conduct an Internet search for two current bills.
Write a summary of the bills and be sure to
include the name, number, sponsor, current status
and a list of the Committees that are working on
these bills.
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Activity 2
Create a simulated bill in attempt to understand
the thought process involved in writing an actual
legislative bill.
Click Here to Build a Bill
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Activity 3

• Conduct research and explain the role of the
  Conference Committee in the legislative process
  in a one-page document.
• May use websites, books, videotapes and other
  Congressional resources

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Activity 4
Conduct a class simulation of the process of how
a bill becomes a law. Groups of students will
represent the House, Senate, Conference
Committee and the President.
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Activity 5
Write a letter to your representative about an
issue that is important to you. Inform the
representative about the issue and whether you
are in support of it or against it. Click the
icon below.
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Web Sites

• http//clerkkids.house.gov
• http//thomas.loc.gov
• http//www.house.gov/writerep
• http//www.house.gov
• http//www.senate.gov
• http//www.whitehouse.gov