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How a Bill Becomes a Law

How a Bill Becomes a Law. Ideas for new bills come from: Private citizens Interest groups Congressman President Must be Sponsored Cosponsors show wide support Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill In the House : a member drops it into the hopper

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How a Bill Becomes a Law

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  1. How a Bill Becomes a Law

  2. Ideas for new bills come from: • Private citizens • Interest groups • Congressman • President • Must be Sponsored • Cosponsors show wide support • Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill • In the House: a member drops it into the hopper • In the Senate: the presiding officer calls on a Senator who presents the bill

  3. House or Senate Introduction • Printed and distributed to lawmakers • Given Title and number (H.R. 2, or S.1) according to which house it belongs in. • New bills are sent to committees based on subject • May be sent to subcommittee 1. Can ignored and let it die – Pigeonholing 2. Kill bill by majority vote • Committee can recommend: • Bill be introduced to the whole house • Make changes • Rewrite bill before sending it back

  4. H.R. 3660 • Public • to provide field trips for all 10th grade government students. • In the Upper Darby High School • November 14th, 2013 • MS. Antonini, Dom, Anyea, Grace, Julian,, introduced the following bill; • A BILL • to provide field trips for all 10th grade government students • Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, To provide the opportunity for all 10th grade students to enjoy a field trip to Philadelphia or Washington D.C. All students have the option to vote on either city and attend thus field trip once a year.

  5. Committee Hearings • Committee (or subcommittee) hold hearings • Listen to testimony from people who have interests in the bill • Experts on the subject • Government officials • Interest groups • Concerned people • After hearings, Committee makes changes to bill (section by section) to make bill acceptable • Majority vote is required for all changes • After changes, committee votes either to kill the bill or report it

  6. Floor Action • Debated on the floor, amended if necessary • Major changes or typographical errors are debated • Voting on a Bill follows the debate. • Quorum is needed • Bill must receive a majority in order to pass • House Voting (3 Ways) • Voice Vote (“Aye” or “No”) • Standing Vote • In favor – stand and counted • Opposed – stand and counted • Electronic Vote • Senate Voting (3 Ways) • Voice Vote, Standing Vote • Roll-call • Names are called alphabetically and respond “Aye” or “No”

  7. Final Steps • Sent to the other house of Congress • Must pass BOTH houses in identical form • If different versions appear a conference committee occurs • Senators and Representatives iron out differences between the versions Approved Bill Sent to President • The President may: • Sign the bill into LAW or it becomes law after 10 days without signature • Veto the bill and send it back to Congress • If the bill gets 2/3 vote in Congress, it passes over the president’s veto (Congressional Override) • Kill bill passed during last 10 days Congress is in session • Pocket Veto

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