Bellwork

1. What is reapportionment?

2. List three expressed Powers of Congress.

How a Bill Becomes a LawIt all starts “in committee.”

How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. Intro of Bill (In House or Senate)

SenateHouse

How a Bill Becomes a Law

2. Committee Action – can approve, rewrite, amend, or reject (table) the bill.

Senate CommitteeHouse

How a Bill Becomes a Law

3. Floor Action – members debate, amend, and vote on the bill.

Senate CommitteeHouse

Senate Floor

Simple Majority = ½ +1

How a Bill Becomes a Law

4. Goes to Other Chamber (House or Senate)

Senate Committee House Committee

Senate Floor

Simple Majority = ½ +1

Introduced in the House

House Floor

Simple Majority = ½ +1

How a Bill Becomes a Law

5. Conference Committee – irons out differences between the two versions.

Senate Committee House Committee

Senate Floor

Simple Majority = ½ +1

Introduced in the House

House Floor

Simple Majority = ½ +1

Conference Committee

How a Bill Becomes a Law

6. The President’s Desk – can sign into law or veto (if it’s vetoed, Congress can override it with a 2/3 vote in each chamber)

Senate Committee House Committee

Senate Floor

Simple Majority = ½ +1

Introduced in the House

House Floor

Simple Majority = ½ +1

Conference Committee

PRESIDENT

Bills Introduced 10,238

Referred to Committee 10,178

Reported by Committee 1,205

Passed One Chamber 1,184

Passed Both Chambers 667

Passed Into Law 590

LESS THAN 10% OF Bills proposed get passed

Remember This?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxT7QjlvDqM

How a bill becomes a law ReadingQuestions1. Where do ideas for laws come from?2. What must happen before a bill can be introduced to the U.S. House of

Representatives?3. How is a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives?4. What happens to a bill while it is in committee?5. What can happen to a bill if changes are made to its content while it is

in committee?6. How do members of the U.S. House of Representatives vote on bills?7. Who must agree to a bill before it can become a law?8. What can Congress do if a bill is vetoed by the President?

CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS9. Why is it important that both the U.S. House of Representatives and

U.S. Senate agree to a bill before it is sent to the President? Why should the President have a say in which bills become laws?

10. How would a Member’s personal experiences affect the way he or she votes on legislation?

Have Students come up with a billStudents will get into groups of 4.Each group will come up with a law/bill

for the school that they would like to change.

Then each group will present to class. The class can agree or change the bill to

be sent to the President(teacher). President(teacher) can agree, veto, or

change bill.Then class can revote if President vetoes

or changes bill.

Bill to Law Cartoon!

You will illustrate the six steps of a bill becoming law. This can a flow-chart or a comic strip, but must include pictures or icons and captions.

Feel free to “amend” the bill throughout the process or make it represent a specific topic.

Steps to Include: 1. Introduction of Bill 2. Committee Action 3. Floor Action 4. Moves to Other Chamber 5. Conference Committee 6. The President’s desk

Rubric

A caption & short description of each step……………..10ptsAn image corresponding to each step………………….10ptsCreativity and effort………...10ts

Exit SlipWho do you feel has more power

in the legislative process? The President or Congress? Why?