How a Bill Becomes a LawLibertyville HS – Government

How a Bill . . . Class of 216 Bill

• Introducing a bill• HR (House Resolution) 216: ???• Bill written and introduced in House or Senate

• In our example, bill introduced by US Representative Brad Schneider in the House of Reps.

Rep. Schneider

From Introduction to House Committee

• After introduction, bill assigned to Standing Committee based on its subject matter• Subject matter =

what the bill is all about

• Our example = ???• Once in committee,

generally referred to subcommittee

Swearing in a witness, Senate hearing

Subcommittee Action

• Study• Review documents,

examine evidence of problem

• Hearings• Hear from experts,

proponents, opponents• Revision

• Amendments (changes) to bill

• Vote by subcommittee• Yes = goes to Committee• No = bill dies

Transportation subcommitteeHearing testimony

Full Committee Consideration

• Hearings• Hear testimony from

experts, proponents, opponents

• Revisions• Amendments (changes)

to bill• Full committee vote

• Yes = goes to House floor (via Rules Comm.)

• No = bill dies• MOST BILLS DIE IN

COMMITTEE!!!

Bill Gates testifying at a US Senatecommittee hearing

From Standing Committee to Rules Committee

• “Rules” set for bill• Governs floor action for bill

(length of debate, # of amendments)

• Sets calendar of debate on house floor (order of bills)

• “Privileged” bills go to the floor out of order of the legislative calendar – whenever Speaker wants

Rules Room

House Floor Action and Passage

• Debate• Each political party gets a

certain amount of time to speak

• Floor amendments• Changes to bill proposed

during debate• Floor vote

• Yes = bill passes to Senate

• No = bill dies

For gavel to gavel coverageFor the political junkies . . . C-SPAN!

How a Bill Becomes a law: Interlude

I’m just a bill . . .

Second Chamber Consideration

• In our example, our bill goes to the Senate and is given a Senate number

• S 911• Bill assigned to a

standing committee• In our case, what

standing committee?

Senate Chamber

Senate Subcommittee Action

• Bill referred to subcommittee• More study• More Hearings• More revision

(amendments)• Subcommittee vote

• Yes = bill goes to full committee

• No = bill dies

Full Committee Consideration

• Hearings• Revision

(amendments)• Committee vote

• If yes, goes to Senate floor

• If no, bill dies• Senate leadership

takes a position on bill (for or against)

Senate hearing on Insurance reform

Senate Floor Action

• Senate debate• No limits on how long

a senator may speak• Ex – Sen. Ted Cruz

• Filibuster possible• Talking a bill to death• Purpose = to assure

the political minority’s viewpoint is considered

• Lead to compromise• Closing off debate is

called cloture• Requires 60 votes (3/5)• Very rare; generally,

compromise occurs

Senate Floor Action

• Senate floor vote• Yes

• If no revisions in senate, bill goes to the president

• If bill has been revised (amended) in Senate, then bill must go to Conference Committee

• No = bill dies Senate floor vote on bailout package, 2009

Conference Committee

• Constitution requires all legislation passed by both chambers to be identical

• Conference Committees are appointed to resolve differences• ad hoc committees (means

for the particular purpose)• Appointed by the four leaders

of the House, Senate• Usually the senior members

of the House, Senate standing committees

• Does not have to be equal in numbers from the H & S

• Must hold at least one public hearing

Conference Committeemeeting

Conference Committee Report (CCR)

• Negotiations of members = CCR

• Majority of members from each chamber must agree to language of CCR

• If agreed, the CCR goes to House, Senate

• Entire House and Senate must each approve the CCR• If yes, bill goes to president• If no, bill dies

Checks and Balances: The President

• President can sign bill, and it becomes law

• President can veto bill• Returns to both House and Senate• House, Senate may vote to

overturn veto• Need 2/3 votes in each chamber

to overturn veto• Pocket Veto

• Constitution says president must sign or veto a bill within 10 days, not counting Sundays• If no action and Congress in session,

bill becomes law• If no action and Congress is NOT in

session (adjourned), bill dies (PV)