HOW FEDERAL LAWS ARE MADE

Learning Objectives

Explain where the ideas for laws may come from.

Name the six steps it takes for a bill to become a law.

Give two reasons why a bill might fail to become a law.

Words to KnowTestify – to make statements in hearings or

in court to establish some truth or fact

Subcommittee – a branch of a standing committee that has a special area of study

Conference committee – a House Senate committee that works out the differences in bills passes by the two houses of Congress

Presiding officer – the leader of a government body who runs or directs that body

Legislation – laws that are made or proposed

Floor leader – the leader of each of the two political parties in Congress who directs the debate on proposed bills

Whip – the assistant to each of the floor leaders of Congress

Where Laws Come FromTurning a bill into a law is a long and often

hard jobMaking laws takes many stepsEvery law starts with an idea from anywhere.

Farmers, President, Senators, or even you.

How a Bill Becomes Law

Every law begins as a bill in Congress

Step 1: Introducing the Bill

a. A representative has an idea for a new law.

b. Writes the idea for new law in a bill.

c. Takes bill to the meeting room of the House and drops in into a

wooden box call the “hopper”

d. The clerk gives bill a short title and a number

e. The Title and number are written in the Congressional Record.

This is called the first reading of the bill.

f. The bill is printed so all members have a copy.

g. Speaker of the House sends bill to the proper standing committee.

Step 2: The Committee Stage

a. Members of the committee study the bill carefully.

b. They listen to other representatives speak for or against the bill.

c. The committee asks many questions.

d. Sometimes the committee will hold a public hearing. Experts in the

field, government officials, and other persons may be invited to testify.

A Committee Within a CommitteeA standing committee will sometimes turn

over its work on a proposed bill to one of its subcommittees.There are about 140 subcommittees in the

HouseThere are more than 100 in the SenateAfter several meetings the committee will

vote. If the bill passes, it goes before the whole

House of Representatives

Step 3: The Debate

a. The bill receives its second reading b. Each representative in the House may

debate the bill. c. Representatives are allowed 1 hour to

speak. d. The bill is printed in it’s final form. e. Then it is given a third reading. f. The House votes

Step 4: On to the Senate

a. Debating begins again.

b. Senate votes.

Step 5: Conference Committee

a. If both houses of Congress pass the same bill with different

amendments the bill goes to a special conference committee.

b. Members of both houses make up committee. c. Committee can only consider the points on

which the two bills differ.

d. Bothe houses of Congress must pass the new compromise bill. No more amendments can be added.

Using a FilibusterSenators can speak as long as they like.Some Senators try to kill a bill by talking so

long that the senate has to move onto other business.This delaying is called a filibusterSenate can end a filibuster by voting for the

cloture rule.3/5 of senate of the (60 senators) votes for

cloture the filibuster is stopped.

Step 6: The President’s Desk

a. Every bill that Congress passes goes to the President

b. One of four things can happen.

1. Sign the bill so it becomes law

2. Veto (stop) the bill. It would then be returned to congress.

2/3 of both houses must vote for the bill then it will be a law.

This is called overriding a veto.

3. Leave bill unsigned for ten days while Congress is in session.

Then it automatically becomes a law.

4. Leave bill unsigned for ten days after Congress has ended its session. Then the bill dies.

Laws Good for the Whole CountryMembers of Congress protect the special

interest of the people they represent.That is why getting majority of

representatives and senators to agree on a bill is difficult

The majority must represent the whole country not just part of it.