Congress: Part 3-Congress at Work

1. Congress: Part 3-Congress at Work

2. Sec.1: How a bill becomes a law • A. Proposing a Law • 1. Bill: A proposed law • 2. Only Congressmen can intro. bill • 3. Sponsor: Member who introduces a bill.

3. B. Sources of Bills • 1. 80% come from Pres/Exec Branch. • 2. Special-interest groups. • 3. Constituents • 4. Congressmen or their staffs. • 5. State/local officials.

4. C. Types of Bills • 1. Public Bill: General public/entire nation. • 2. Private Bills: Individual citizens/small groups. • D. Resolutions: Formal statement of legislative opinion or decision.

5. 1.Simple Resolution: One house opinion, no force of law (other house/pres not required) • 2.Join Resolution: Both houses. Pres signs=law. Correct errors, appropriate funds, propose amendments. • 3.Concurrent Resolutions: Both houses, but not a law (adjournment). • 4. Rider: Provision on subject other than bill topic, attached to bill likely to pass.

6. E. 10,000 introduced every term, 10% get out of committee, 3% pass both houses. Why? • 1. Too many involved in process and its long. • 2. Compromise necessary, not always possible. • 3. Some bills introduced for political reasons.

7. F. How a Bill becomes a law…The Complete Process. • 1. Bill introduced by Rep or Sen. Can start in either house (revenue in HR). Placed in hopper given to Secretary of Senate, gives it a number and sent to be printed. First of three formal readings. • 2. President Pro Tempore (or VP) assigns it to a standing Committee.

8. 3. Chairman of Committee, if he likes it, refers to a subcommittee, which schedules hearings. Experts present both sides, junkets scheduled, • If Chairman doesn’t like it he can pigeonhole it (killing it). After 30 days any member can file a discharge petition to have it sent to the floor, must be signed by a majority. • 4. Subcom reports to full committee, then bill is marked up (amended, rewritten, sent to floor with favorable recommendation). If passed it is placed on the calendar.

9. 5. Senate Floor debate: Entire Senate debates, amends, adds riders. Simple majority needed to pass and send to the House. • 6. Bill is introduced in the House. • 7. Bill assigned to a Standing committee by Speaker. • 8. Committee Chair assigns it to a subcommittee for hearings. After debates and amendments the subcom sends back to Full comm. • 9. Full comm debates, votes.

10. 10. Rules committee sets rules for debate, time limit and places on calendar if acceptable. • 11. House Floor debates, majority vote needed. • 12. Conference Committee: Irons out differences in HR and Sen versions. Both houses must approve identical bill. After compromised reached bill sent back to both houses for approval.

11. 13. Bill goes to President, can do 1 of 4 things. • a. Sign it: Bill becomes law immediately. • b. Allow bill to become law w/o signature. Shows dissatisfaction to parts of bill, rarely happens. • c. Veto the bill: must put objections in writing and send it back to the house where the bill originated. • d. President has 10 days to deal with bill, If does nothing and Congress adjourns, bill is vetoed (pocket veto) • 14. Congress can override with 2/3 vote.

12. Sec.2: Influences on Lawmakers’ Decisions • A. Many factors influence a lawmakers’ decisions. • 1. Staff Members • 2. Influece of voters/constituents: • a. Drafting legislations (their ideas) • b. publicize views in editorials • c. Contribute $ to campaigns • d. Vote in Elections • e. Write/call your congressman

13. f. participate in party activities • g. join a pressure group • Methods for Congressmen to keep in touch with Constituents: • a. Maintain home office. • b. Travel district to meet people (town meetings) • c. publish newsletter • d. Questionnaire • e. Hire pollsters