Walk Down Civics Memory Lane: Navigating through the Legislative and Appropriations Process

Walk Down Civics Memory Lane: Navigating through the Legislative

and Appropriations Process

Prepared by the Council for Exceptional Children

Words to Consider

“One voice can change a room, and if it can change a room, it can change a city, and if it can change a city, it can change a state, and if it can change a state, then it can change a nation, and if it can change a nation, it can change the world.”

- Barack Obama

Civics 101: Why it’s important to be informed

Knowing how the process works helps you:– Navigate your way through the system.– Helps you understand how to use your time most

effectively.– Communicate effectively with members of Congress

and their staff.– Better inform your network and makes you a better

advocate.

How the Legislative Process Works…L e g is la t ion M a y B e in g in E ith e r th e H o use or S en a te

H o u se P a s se s M e a su re

H o u se De b a te s , A m en d s M e as u re

L e a de rsh ip S ch e du le s M e asu re fo r F lo o r C o ns id e ra t ion

M e a su re is re fe rre d to co m m ittee- H e a rin g s H e ld

- R e po rts M e a sure to H o u se

M e asu re in tro d uce d in the Ho u se

S e na te P a sse s M e asu re

S e na te D e ba tes , A m e nd s M e asu re

L e a de rsh ip S ch e du le s M e asu re fo r F lo o r C o ns id era tion

M e a su re is re fe rre d to co m m ittee- H e a ring s H e ld

- R e p o rts M ea sure to S en a te

M e asu re In tro du ced in S en a te

How a Bill Becomes Law

How a Bill Becomes Law

How a Bill Becomes Law

Photo of Democratic Amendments to ESEAHouse of Representatives, February 2012

Getting to the President’s Desk…

O n e C h am b era g ress to the o th erch a m be r's ve rs ion

H o u se A pp ro ve s Co n fe re n ce R ep o rt S e na te A p p ro ves C on fe re n ce R ep o rt

E a ch ch am be r ap p o in ts M e m b e rsto a c o n fe ren ce com m ittee

to reco nc ile th e d iffe re nce s a nda g ree s to a co n fe re n ce rep o rt

H o us e a nd S e na te e xch an gea m en d m e nts to b ill a nd

re ach a g ree m e n t

Measures must pass the House and Senate in identical form before being presented to the President.

Getting to the President’s Desk …

Your Signature, Please…

Once On the President's Desk....

P re s id e n t S ig nsM e a s u re

M e a su re B e com esL aw

If C o ng re ss is in se s s ionm e asu re b e co m es law

If C on g res s is n o t in s es s ionm e asu re d oe s n o t b e co m e law

("p o cke t ve to ")

If P re s id e n t d oe s n o t s ignm e a su re in to law

w ith in 1 0 d a ys:

P re s id e n t V e tos M ea s u reM e as u re d oe s n o t b e co m ela w un le ss b o th ch a m b e rs

o v e rrid e ve to b y 2 /3 m a jo rity

The Budget Process

During the year prior to the year in which the fiscal yearbegins April – June Agencies begin budget requests

July – AugustOffice of Management and Budget provides guidance to agencies

Early fall Agencies submit initial budget request to OMB

Nov. – Dec. OMB, President review requests

This is the first step in deciding program funding amounts

The Budget Process (cont.)

By first Monday in Feb. President submits budget to Congress

February – September Congressional phase.

By July 15 President submits mid- session review to

Congress

October 1 Fiscal year begins

October – September OMB apportions funds to agencies

The Budget Process (cont.)

February – September Congressional phase.

You Are Here!

House Passes Budget

Resolution

Sets a total spending

level (302a)

Full Appropriations Committee

Sets smaller spending levels302(b)

12 Subcommittees

Labor Health Human

Services & Education (“Labor H”)

Subcommitteedecides

amounts for specific

programs

Navigating through the Appropriations Process

House of Representatives

H o u se floo r ac tion

F u ll co m m itte e m a rku p an d re p o rt

S u b co m m ittee m ark up

S u b co m m itte e H e arin gs

Senate

S e na te f lo o r ac t ion

F u ll co m m itte e m a rku p an d re p o rt

S u b co m m ittee m arkup

S u b co m m itte e H e arin gs

Let’s Work it Out…

House-Senate Conference

H o us e ag ree s to c on fe re n ce rep o rt S e na te a g re e s to co n fe ren ce rep o rt

H o u se a nd S en a te C o nfe ree s Re co nc ile D iffe re n c es in tw o m e as u res

H o us e na m es co n fe re es S e na te n am e s con fe re es

Sent to President

Minibus?? Omnibus??Shutdown?

Realistic Plans???26

Victory!! (Sort of …)

Key Terms

Fiscal Year: October 1 through September 30 Mandatory Spending: Spending (budget authority and

outlays) controlled by laws other than annual appropriations acts.

Discretionary Spending: Spending controlled by the annual appropriations acts

Continuing Resolution: provides budget authority for Federal agencies and programs to continue in operation until the regular appropriations acts are enacted.

Resources for this presentation:Congressional Deskbook 2005-2007

www.senate.gov

www.house.gov