HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW

Classroom Activity

STEP 1 Bill is introduced in either the House of

Representatives or the Senate

STEP 2

In committee, bill is analyzed, revised, and voted on

Most bills die in committee (they don’t make it past this step)

Bill is sent to the appropriate committee

STEP 2 (CONTINUED) In your committee circle, pass your bill

to the left. Read the bill. Make any revisions you think would

make the bill better On the back of the bill, write a check if

you think it should move on, or an “X” if you do not think the bill is a good idea.

Pass the bill to the left and repeat process until you have read and voted on every bill in your committee.

STEP 3 Bills that make it past

committee, go to the House or Senate floor.

Members of congress who support the bill try to convince others to vote for it

Members who oppose the bill argue against it.

The entire house votes on the bill.

STEP 3 (CONTINUED) Combine with the other committee from

your house. All bills that got approved in committee

should be read aloud to your entire house.

One member should argue for each bill, and another member should argue against each bill.

All members in your house will vote on each bill.

STEP 4 Bills that pass the floor vote are sent to

the other house. Trade bills with the other house.

STEP 5 Bill is sent to the appropriate committee

in the other house Now this committee analyzes, revises,

and votes on the bill.

STEP 5 (CONTINUED) In your committee circle, divide the new

bills between your members. Read the bill you have been given. Make any revisions you think would

make the bill better On the back of the bill, write a check if

you think it should move on, or an “X” if you do not think the bill is a good idea.

Pass the bill to the left and repeat process until you have read and voted on every bill in your committee.

STEP 6 Bills that make it past committees in the

other house go to a floor vote Supporters and opponents argue for or

against the bill Every member of that house votes on

the bill.

STEP 6 (CONTINUED) Combine with the other committee from

your house. All bills that got approved in committee

should be read aloud to your entire house.

One member should argue for each bill, and another member should argue against each bill.

All members in your house will vote on each bill.

STEP 7

If the bill is passed in the floor vote in both houses, it moves to a conference committee.

Conference committees compromise to settle any differences between the two versions of the bill

Conference committees re-write the bill and to create its final draft.

STEP 7 (CONTINUED) Get into your conference committee

group

If your bill has made it past both houses, bring it with you to the conference committee.

Create the final draft of your bill by re-writing it to incorporate changes that everyone in your conference committee can agree on.

STEP 8 The final version of the bill is sent back

to the floor of each house for a final floor vote.

Each member of each house votes to approve the final version of the bill

STEP 8 (CONTINUED) Go back to your original house group.

One representative from each conference committee will read their final version of the bill to each house.

Each member of your house will vote to either approve or deny the final version of the bill

STEP 9 If the bill passes the final

vote in both houses, it is sent to the President

The president has 4 options: Sign the bill into law! Veto- bill does not become law Do nothing- after 10 days bill

becomes law Pocket veto- if the congress

session ends within those 10 days and the president does not sign it, then it does not become a law.

STEP 9 CONTINUED Bring your bills that have passed the

final vote to my desk (I am the president).

I will either sign or veto your bill.

If I veto your bill, it can still become a law if 2/3 of the class votes to override the veto.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! If you made it through all 9 steps, your

bill has become a law!