Chapter 12: How a Bill becomes a Law

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Chapter 12 How a Bill becomes a Law

• Pick up your folder, textbook and a worksheet.
• Complete Ch. 12, Vocabulary
• http//www.schooltube.com/video/89a42a6866404f4baa
  b7/I'm20Just20a20Bill
• http//www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id
  7090

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How a Bill Becomes a LawSix Easy Steps
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1. Introduction

• Bill is a proposed law
• Presented to the House or Senate for
  consideration
• Most bills are proposed by members of the
  executive branch
• Referred to a committee

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2. Committee Action

• Specific standing committee is selected
• Sub committee assignment is usually made to study
  the proposal
• If subcommittee approves, bill is referred back
  to the standing committee for additional study
• A rider can be added to the bill provision
  added to bill that would not pass on its own
  merits
• Usually deals with an unrelated matter

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3. Floor Action

• Once recommended by the
• standing committee, the bill receives its
  second reading-each house then discusses the bill
• Debate House No one can speak for more than
  one hour w/o unanimous consent
• Senate Filibuster-can talk a
  bill to
  death
• Changes made to bill
• If vote demanded, debate ends and
• voting begins.

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4. Conference Committee

• Responsible for resolving the differences in the
  bill
• Changes made in the House
• Changes made in the Senate
• For the bill to become a law, both Houses must
  approve a proposal worded exactly the same

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5. Congressional Approval

• Once the Conference Committee writes a
  compromised bill, each house of Congress must
  vote on the
• new wording.
• If approved, sent to the
  President

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6. Presidential Action

• President has 4 choices
• 1. Sign the bill
• 2. Veto send back to Congress with Pres.
  objections
• 3. Not sign, not act for 10 days - automatically
  becomes law
• 4. Pocket veto measure dies if Congress
  adjourns within 10 days and it has not been
  signed

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• Pick up your folder and get out the worksheet
  called
• How a Bill becomes a Law
• If your card says House of Represent - sit on the
  left side of the room
• If your card says Senate - sit on the right side
  of the room.

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• 1. Introduction
• 2. Committee Action
• Floor Action
• Conference Committee
• Congressional Approval
• Presidential Action

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• Pick up folder, class work list and study guide
• Put together class work and use it to complete
  the study guide
• Test on Congress is tomorrow!

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• Pick up folder and review class work packet for
  the test
• After finishing your review for the test, put the
  class work packet into the bin for your class.