Making Law: The House

1. Making Law: The House Chapter 12 Section 3

2. Key Terms • Bill • Joint Resolution • Concurrent Resolution • Resolution • Rider • Pigeonhole • Discharge petition • Quorum • Engrossed

3. Bill-is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration. Most bills do not originate in Congress Most of the important bill come from the executive branch The First Steps

4. Business, labor, agriculture and other special interest groups Some bill come from private citizens who think “there ought to be a law” The First steps

5. Before introduction letter is circulated Explains why the sponsor thinks t is important Tries to get several co-sponsors Increases chance of passage The First Steps

6. There are two types of bills Public-apply to the nation as a whole (taxes) Private-apply to certain persons or places (helping farmers) Types of Bills and Resolutions

7. Joint resolution-are similar to bills when passed have the force of law Usually deal with temporary matters Used to propose constitutional amendments To annex territories Joint Resolution

8. Deal with matter that the House and Senate must act on jointly Do not have the force of law Do not require a presidents signature Used to state a position on some matter (foreign affairs) Concurrent Resolutions

9. Called simple resolutions deal with matters concerning the House alone Used for adoption of a new rule Have no force of law Do not require a presidents signature Resolution

10. Unusually deals with a single subject Sometimes a rider is included Rider-is a provision not likely to pass on its own is attached to an important matter Hope they will ride through the process Resolution

11. Most riders are attached onto appropriations bills Money bills have some many riders they are called Christmas trees Opponents and president are forced to sign Resolution

12. Originating in the House it has an H in front of the number Originating from the Senate it has an S Each bill has a sheet title (brief description) Entered into House Journal and Congressional Record Introduction and First Reading

13. Journal contains the minutes and official proceedings in Congress Members have five days to change Change inaccurate or thoughtless remarks Insert speeches This is first reading Introduction and First Reading

14. All bills are printed after intro and passed out to House members Each bill passed has three readings Second reading come during floor consideration Introduction and First Reading

15. Third reading takes place before the final vote. Each reading is usually by number and title Important or controversial bills are read in full and taken line for line Introduction and First Reading

16. Three readings ancient parliamentary practice Intended to ensure careful consideration Today just a way station along their route Important in early days when some members could not read Introduction and First Reading

17. After first reading the Speaker refers it to appropriate standing committee Bills content determines where it goes If issues are complex it could given to one of several committees Introduction and First Reading

18. Constitution makes no mention of committees Are absolutely essential Sometimes called little legislatures The Bill in Committee

19. Standing committees are sieves that sift through all the bills Most are rejected Fate of most bills decided in committee The Bill in Committee

20. Pigeonholed-they are buried and die in committee Sometime the committee buries a bill of the majority Can be brought out by a discharge petition The Bill in Committee

21. Discharge position- force a bill that has remained in committee for 30 days onto the floor for consideration The Bill in Committee

22. If motion is signed by 218 house members the House has 7 days to report the bill If not the person who signed the bill on the second and fourth Monday can move to discharge the bill The Bill in Committee

23. Last successful in 2002 in Bipartisan Campaign Reform act of 2002 The House leadership had buried it for years First change in campaign law in 23 years The Bill in Committee

24. Chairman refers it to one of several subcommittees Hold hearings People invited to testify Committee can issue a subpoena Can force witness to testify The Committee at Work

25. Sometimes these committees make trips People criticize the expense of the trips On the spot investigation is crucial to the committee The Committee at Work

26. When subcommittee is done it goes to the full committee May report on the bill favorably Chairmen’s job to steer it through floor debate Committee Actions

27. Refuse to report that bill (pigeonhole) Report on the bill in amended form Changed in committee Several similar bill are combined Committee Action

28. Report the bill with unfavorable recommendation Gives House the chance to consider the bill Do not want to be responsible for killing it Report a bill to committee New bill substituted for on of several bills referred Committee Action

29. Calendars there are five Union Calendar House Calendar Private Calendar Corrections Calendar Discharge Calendar Scheduling Floor Debate

30. Bills are taken from these calendars Corrections calendars are considered on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month Scheduling Floor Debate

31. On Calendar “Wednesdays” committee chairmen may call a bill from the Union Calendar Scheduling Floor Debate

32. Rules Committee plays a critical role in the legislative process Can set rules for how House members may consider a bill Rules

33. Rules committee must approve a time for its appearance on the floor. By not granting the rule, the Rules committee kills the bill Rules

34. Certain bills are privileged Appropriations bills, general revenue (tax bills) Conference committee reports Certain days House may suspend all rules Rules

35. Receives a second reading when it reaches the floor Committee of the whole includes all members of the House as one committee Speaker steps down led by a member The Bill on the Floor

36. A quorum must be present for the house to do business Quorum-is a majority of the full membership (in the House 218 members) The Bill on the Floor

37. House has imposed limits on debate In 1842 rule developed that no one could hold the floor longer than 1 hour Speaker can force you to give up the floor Debate

38. Debate • Majority and minority floor leaders decide how to split floor time • A member can demand a vote at any time • If motion is adopted debate ends • Up and down vote is then taken

39. Voting • Can be subject to several votes • House uses four different methods for taking a floor vote

40. Voting • Voice votes are the most common. Speaker calls for yea or nay • If a member thinks the speaker erred in a voice vote they can demand a standing vote

41. Voting • Teller vote- 1/5 quorum in house • Speaker names tellers and they collect the votes • A roll call vote-vote of record can be done if 1/5 request it

42. Voting • Since 1973 done by computer • Vote yea, nay, present • A large board above the speakers head show the voting

43. Final steps in the House • Engrossed-once a bill has been approved at second reading or printed in final form • Read for third time • Vote is taken • Speaker signs it and it it taken to the Senate