Legislative Branch

1. Legislative Branch Standards 10-11

2. Standard 10 - How a Bill becomes a Law I can describe the process of how a bill is created and how it becomes a law.

3. 10.1 I can monitor for meaning as I learn the process of how a bill becomes a law. Learning Target

4. 1. Any Congressman can introduce a bill • May be introduced in one house or both • 2. Bill assigned to a committee by Speaker or Pres Pro Temp Introducing a Bill

5. 3. Standing Committee will revise bill • Chairman delegate parts of bill to subcommittees • Committee Approval • Committee votes • Written report on changes and why they favor bill • 4. Rules Committee (HoR only) • Sets rules for floor debate Committee Action

6. House of Representatives Senate 5. Unlimited debate Filibuster: Senator can take the floor and not stop debating to keep a vote from happening Can speak about any topic Cloture: motion to end filibuster. 3/5 vote required Quorum call: 51 must be present to vote • 5. Limited debate • Debate follows strict rules with equal time for both sides • Debate must be germaine (relevant) • Quorum Call: 218 must be present to vote Floor Action

7. 6. Conference Committee: • joint committee that works out the difference between the bills that were passed by each house. • 7. Both houses must vote again on revised bill Final steps

8. 8. Bill goes to the President • 9. He signs it or • Does not sign it (becomes a law within 10 days) or • Veto: can be overridden by 2/3 vote in Congress • Pocket Veto: Does not sign it and Congress is not in session so they can not override it • Veto is how the President checks the powers of Congress Presidential Approval

10. Types of Bills 10.3 I can infer how different types of bills effect my life.

11. Public: affects the general public • Example: gun control • Private: benefit specific individuals, corporations, or group of people • Example: veterans benefits Types of Bills

12. Joint Resolution: used to propose amendments or provide emergency funding, designating a holiday, commemoration • Requires both houses and presidential approval Types of Bills

13. Rider: unrelated legislation is attached to a bill. • AKA: Piggyback • Purpose: to pass through something that would not otherwise pass • Example • Lobbyist: someone who works to persuade legislators to pass laws that will benefit a particular organization/group Types of Bills

14. Voice vote: vote take by the leaders asking those in favor to “aye,” those opposed say “nay” • Roll-call vote: each congressman’s name is called and he votes, all votes are recorded Types of Voting

15. KY Bills Reflection: • Which 2 bills do you think were most important/relevant? • Which bill do you think has the best chance of passing through the Kentucky Legislature? Notebook Item 18

16. Standard 11- Committees I can identify the different types of congressional committees, and evaluate the roles they play in the House and Senate in determining legislative agendas and providing oversight .

17. Definition: small group of people assigned to complete a specific task, such as construct a bill • Chairman: head of the committee What is a Committee

18. Standing Committees: • Permanent committees that are always present in either house • Example: Budget, Commerce, Homeland Security • Select and Special Committees • New committees established to deal with a special issue like an investigation or new issue Types of Committees

19. Joint Committees: • HoR and Senate committees join together in a committee • Subcommittees: • Committee within a committee that handles a specific task Types of Committees

20. House of Rep Committee • Created as a Select Committee after 9/11 • 2005: becamestanding committee • Current: 33 members • Chairman: Michael McCaul • 6 subcommittees such as Border Security, Cypersecurity, etc Example: Committee on Homeland Security