How a bill becomes a Law

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How a bill becomes a Law

• Ergit and James

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(No Transcript)
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Bill is Introduced

• A senator or representative introduces a bill
• The bill is sent to the clerk of his house
• The bill is given a number and title

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The First Reading

• The first reading is done by the clerk of the
  house.
• After this the bill is sent to a committee
• Here it may be tabled (killed)
• After much debate and amending, the bill is voted
  on.
• If it passes it is sent back to the house

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The Second Reading

• The clerk reads the bill carefully, sentence by
  sentence
• Members may then debate the bill and offer
  amendments.
• In the house of reps, the time for debate is
  limited by a cloture rule but in the senate there
  is no such rule

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House vs. Senate Reading

• House
• Cloture rule is a parliamentary procedure by
  which debate is ended and an immediate vote is
  taken on the matter under discussion.

In the senate only 60 votes are required to pass
a bill but it opens the possibility of
filibuster.This is the use of prolonged speech
to delay legislative action.
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The Third Reading

• At this stage, a bill is put to vote.
• If it passes then it goes to the other house of
  Congress
• If it passes there, then a joint congressional
  committee must be appointed by both Houses to fix
  disagreements.

Sorry for the cheap background pic.. We made it
ourselves!
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The President

• If both houses pass it, then it is sent to the
  president.
• If he signs it then it becomes a law
• He can also veto the bill by sending it back with
  reasons as to why it shouldn't pass.
• Although if both houses can get a 2/3rds majority
  on the bill then the veto is overridden.

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The End

• Brought to you by Ergit and James enjoy the pics!