How a Bill Becomes Law

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How a Bill Becomes Law

• By Marylou Trojanowski
• And
• Silvia Martinez

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(No Transcript)
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Bill Gets Introduced

• Senate or Representative introduces an idea for a
  bill
• Then he or she sends it to the clerk of his house
  who gives it a number and title (First Reading)
• Then bill is referred to the proper committee

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Committees

• Decides if the bill is unwise or unnecessary and
  tables it (kills bill)
• Or it may decide the bill is worthwhile and hold
  hearings to listen to facts and opinions
  presented by experts and other people
• The committee debates the bill and offers
  amendments
• A vote is taken and if the vote is favorable,
  the bill is sent back to the floor of the house

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Floor Action

• The clerk reads the bill sentence by sentence to
  the house (second reading)
• In the House of Representatives, the time for
  debate is limited by a cloture rule
• There is no such restriction in the Senate for
  cloture, where 60 votes are required
• The third reading is by title only, and the bill
  is put to a vote, which may be by voice or roll
  call

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Congress

• The bill then goes to the other house of
  Congress, where it may be defeated, or passed
  with or without amendments
• If the bill is defeated, it dies
• If it is passed with amendments, a joint
  congressional committee must be appointed by both
  houses to iron out the differences.

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Bill Becomes Law

• If he approves, he signs it, and the bill becomes
  a law
• if he disapproves, he vetoes the bill by refusing
  to sign it and sending it back to the house of
  origin with his reasons for the veto
• If the bill receives less than a two-thirds
  vote, it is defeated and goes no further
• But if it receives a two-thirds vote or greater,
  it is sent to the other house for a vote. If that
  house also passes it by a two-thirds vote, the
  president's veto is overridden ,bill becomes law