1 / 20

Legislative Process in Congress Chapter 13, Theme E

Explore the functions of Congress in lawmaking and representation, and discover how a bill becomes a law step by step in the legislative process. Dive into the intricate workings of committees, floor actions, and presidential approval.

ndykema
Download Presentation

Legislative Process in Congress Chapter 13, Theme E

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Legislative Process in CongressChapter 13, Theme E AP Government Selina Jarvis

  2. Paradox: Functions of Congress • Lawmaking • Representation • Are these two things compatible? • Quick overview of process in E-Congress & this week’s blog.

  3. Lawmaking: Trustee focus Goal=solutions to national problems Responsibilities: • Legislative Oversight- Oversee what Exec. Br. & bureaucracy is doing • Educate Public- Avenue through which public can be informed about pending legislation—Hearings held • Resolves conflict—Treaty approval, clarify through legislation • Provide security—Funds military & other security forces, creates new ones via laws.

  4. Representation: Delegate Focus Goal=represent constituents of their districts and protect their interests Responsibilities: • Services to constituents Exs? • Protect districts generally protect interests within district Exs.? • Pork-channel federal funds into their districts Exs.?

  5. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 1: Creation • Draft a bill- anyone can draft a bill, only members of Congress can introduce one • Ideas may come from lawmaker, constituents, special interest groups, etc. • Factors to consider: • “ideal law”- Can it pass? • What is content? How much money is asked for? Who is going to implement the bill? (Power)

  6. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 2: Introduction • All appropriation bills begin in the HOR. This includes the federal budget. • HOR bill is put in the hopper. Senator is recognized. After 1st reading, it is titled & numbered. (HR or S) • Referral- Speaker/Leaders decides which committee bill is sent to. Usually multiple committees (multiple referrals) look at new bill, esp. in HOR *BCD= bill can die!

  7. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 3: Committee Action • Standing Committee Considers • Vehicle by which bills are sorted through—reduce # • Senate committees consider confirmations of all appointments & approval by 2/3 of all treaties. • Committee Actions • Sent to subcommittee to study & recommend • Pigeonhole bill • Public Hearings held on bill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAOUTydryLo&feature=related • Mark up session • Full Committee vote to report out or not *BCD

  8. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 4: Floor • Senate uses unanimous consent to bring to floor • House Rules Committee- important to leadership of Congress; under direct control of Speaker. Makes rules regarding how bill will be debated on floor and when (and if) it reaches floor • 3 types of rules: • Open- any amendments can be offered (Germane only in HOR) • Closed- no amendments (typical of majority party & nearly all appropriation bills in HOR) • Modified- Combination of two- ex. Certain types of amendments

  9. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 5: Voting- complicated process Basic steps: • Adopt rules (HOR) • Debate by paragraph • HOR time limits—usually 5 minutes • Filibuster/Cloture in Senate • Amending phase, usually Senate • Vote (HOR: Roll Call/Teller; Senate: Voice, Standing or Roll Call/Teller) *BCD

  10. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 6: Other House • If bill makes it this far, it now goes to the other house for consideration. • The process of steps 1-5 is repeated in the other house *BCD

  11. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 7: Conference • Conference Committee- composed of supporters from both chambers of both parties • Must make compromise billidentical in language then send it back to House and Senate for re-approval. *BCD

  12. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 8: Re-approval • Vote on Conference Committee Bill must be successful in both chambers. • If successful- Bill moves to President’s desk *BCD

  13. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 9: Presidential Approval • President gets bill • Can sign- bill becomes a law http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYq9bZhIyrA&feature=fvst • Can veto- bill with veto message goes back to house of Congress that originated http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/thepresidentandcabinet/a/stemcellveto.htm • Can set aside (Becomes law after 10 days w/o signature) • Can pocket veto *BCD

  14. How a Bill becomes a Law Step 10: Override • If vetoed- 2/3 majority needed in both chambers to override • If overridden, bill becomes law. • Today, with divided government, a veto is a sure way to kill legislation…

  15. History of Presidential Vetoes

  16. Results of the Legislative Process

  17. More Results

  18. Legislative Productivity by President, Party & Congressional Term

  19. Where Bills Hit a Snag…

  20. Assignment • Read the rest of Chapter 13, pp. 356-358 & handouts on Ethics, Expulsion & Censure. Take notes on rules and examples of implementation of these rules. • Complete the Pro/Con sheet on Reforming Congress. I would recommend going to a site like procon.org or other debate sites to get objective arguments on both sides.

More Related