Legislative Process

How A Bill Becomes A Law

Types of Bills• Two Types of Bills:–Private Bills: individual people and

places–Public Bills: general matters and apply

to the entire nation• Examples- gun control, civil rights,

or abortion

Why do such a small number of bills become laws?

• Less than 10% of all bills introduced in Congress become public law. – The lawmaking process is very long and complicated• 100 specific steps could be involve in passing a law, which

could delay, kill or change a bill• Lawmaking is a long process with a lot of steps that sponsors of

a bill must be willing to bargain and compromise with lawmakers and interest groups• Lawmakers sometimes introduce bills that they know do not

have a chance of becoming a law

Introducing a Bill • Ideas come from:– Private citizens– Interest groups– The president– Officials in the executive branch

• Various people may write new bills, such as:– lawmakers or their staffs– lawyers from a Senate or House committee– A White House staff member– An interest group

Introducing A Bill• Only a member of Congress can

introduce a new bill• In the House of Representatives, a

representative simply drops the bill into the hopper, a box near the clerk’s desk

• In the Senate, the presiding officer of the Senate must recognize the senator to formally present the bill

What is a Name?

• In the Senate, bills are designated a title and number (S. 1, S. 2, S. 3, etc.)

• In the House of Representatives, the are designated a title and number (H.R. 1, H.R. 2, H.R. 3, etc.)

• The first reading of the bill is when the bill is printed and distributed to lawmakers

Killing a Bill in Committee

• When the bill is send to a committee a bill could be ignored and simply let die in a process called “pigeonholing”

• Or by a majority vote in the committee

If it survives…

• The committee can recommend that the bill can be:– Adopted as it was introduced– Make changes – Completely rewrite the bill before sending back to

the House or Senate

Committee Hearings

• This is where the committee decides to act on a bill through listening to testimony from people interested in the bill

• Witnesses who present testimony could be:– Experts on the subject of the bill– Government officials – Representatives of interest groups concerned with

the bill

Committee Vote• Committee can vote to either:– Kill – Report

Along with the bill is a written report that explains committee’s actions

Is the report important?

• The report documents:– Committee’s actions– Describes the bill– Lists the major changes the committee has made– Gives opinions on the bill

Floor Action

• Floor Action, debate on the bill in the House and the Senate

• During this debate on the pros and cons of the bill lawmakers can propose amendments to add to the bill

Voting

• Quorum, or majority, of the members must be present to vote

• To pass the bill needs a majority vote of all the members present

House of Representatives Voting

• Three ways to vote:– Voice voting (“Aye” or “NO” is spoken by all

members and the speaker determines who has the most voices)

– Standing vote (division voting those in favor stand up and are counted or those opposed stand)

– Recorded vote (members’ votes are recorded electronically)

Senate Voting• Three ways to vote:– Voice voting (same as house)– Standing vote (same as house)– Roll-call vote (senators respond “Aye” or “No” as

their names are called in alphabetical order

To Pass….

• For a bill to become a law it must pass in both House of Congress in identical form

• If one house accepts one version and the other house has passed the bill goes to Conference Committee

Conference Committee

• Conference Committee, a group of senators and representatives that are to work out the differences between the two versions

• The members that compose the conference committee are called conferees

• Their goal is to bargain and arrange a compromise between the two different bills

Conference Committee (continued)

• The committee members sometimes make important changes in the bill or add provisions neither House or Senate previously considered

• A Conference report, is the final compromised bill

• Once the conference report is accepted, the bill can be submitted to each house to be voted on

The Bill travels to the White House• The president can:– Sign the bill– May keep the bill for 10 days

without signing it• If Congress is in session the will

become law without President’s signature (rarely happens)

– Veto the bill• Veto (the president refuses to sign

the bill)• Pocket Veto ( Congress is no longer

in session and cannot override the veto)

Back to Congress…• If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can

override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both Houses

• If the Congress overrides it becomes law• Congress does not override vetoes very often

because it is difficult to get the necessary two-thirds vote in both Houses

Types of Resolutions

• Simple resolution: covers matters affecting only one house of Congress and is passed by the house alone– Internal matter (does not have the force of a law

and is not sent to the president to sign)

Types of Resolutions

• Joint Resolution: when both houses pass the resolution and the president signs the resolution, it gives it the force of a law.– May correct an error in an earlier law– Propose constitutional amendments, which do not

require the president’s signature

Types of Resolutions

• Concurrent Resolutions: requiring the action of the House and Senate, but on which a law is not needed. – May set a date for the adjournment (end) of

Congress – Used to express Congress’s opinion about an issue

Rider

• What is a rider?– A rider is a provision on a subject other than the

one covered in the bill. – Lawmakers attach riders to bills that are likely to

pass– Sometimes riders are attached to bills that are

unrelated and are simply there to benefit their constituents