The Lawmaking The Lawmaking ProcessProcess

Who’s who in this process?Who’s who in this process?

IntroductionIntroduction The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and

complicated process. Out of the thousands of bills complicated process. Out of the thousands of bills introduced in Congress each year, only a small handful introduced in Congress each year, only a small handful ever make it to the President for approval, and fewer ever make it to the President for approval, and fewer still that are actually signed into law. So what exactly still that are actually signed into law. So what exactly does it take for a bill to become law? And what parts do does it take for a bill to become law? And what parts do the House, Senate, committees, and specific individuals the House, Senate, committees, and specific individuals in Congress play in this confounding process?in Congress play in this confounding process?

RepresentativeRepresentative What role does a representative play What role does a representative play

in the lawmaking process?in the lawmaking process? The life-cycle of a bill starts with a The life-cycle of a bill starts with a

member of congress (either a member of congress (either a Representative or a Senator). Often Representative or a Senator). Often times, a Representative will times, a Representative will introduce a bill into legislation introduce a bill into legislation because he (or she) promised to because he (or she) promised to their specific region of citizens that their specific region of citizens that they would do so if they won election they would do so if they won election to the House. So the idea for a bill to the House. So the idea for a bill can arise from elsewhere, but the can arise from elsewhere, but the actual, physical introduction of a bill actual, physical introduction of a bill ultimately starts with a ultimately starts with a Representative (or Senator).Representative (or Senator).

The House plays a large role in the The House plays a large role in the legislation process. Once a legislation process. Once a Representative introduces a bill, it is Representative introduces a bill, it is passed on to a specific committee passed on to a specific committee relating to the bill. If the committee relating to the bill. If the committee approves the bill, it is moved on to approves the bill, it is moved on to the rest of the House to approve it the rest of the House to approve it (or kill it). If 2/3 of the House (or kill it). If 2/3 of the House approves it, then it is passed on to approves it, then it is passed on to the Senate for approval.the Senate for approval.

SenatorsSenators What role do Senators play in the What role do Senators play in the

lawmaking process?lawmaking process? Senators play many roles in the Senators play many roles in the

lawmaking process. For one, a lawmaking process. For one, a Senator can introduce a bill if he (or Senator can introduce a bill if he (or she) wants to. A senator can also she) wants to. A senator can also decide to not approve a bill, and if decide to not approve a bill, and if 2/3 Senators don’t vote for a bill, 2/3 Senators don’t vote for a bill, then the bill is killed. then the bill is killed.

When the Senate receives a bill When the Senate receives a bill from the House, it either rejects the from the House, it either rejects the bill (killing it), or it can amend that bill (killing it), or it can amend that bill and send it back to the House bill and send it back to the House for approval. The Senate can also for approval. The Senate can also approve a bill (with a 2/3 vote) approve a bill (with a 2/3 vote) without attaching any amendments without attaching any amendments and, if approved by the House as and, if approved by the House as well (with a 2/3 vote), the bill is well (with a 2/3 vote), the bill is finally passed on to the President finally passed on to the President for approval. If, at any time, a bill for approval. If, at any time, a bill fails to get a 2/3 vote from both the fails to get a 2/3 vote from both the House and the Senate, then the bill House and the Senate, then the bill is killed and is moved back to is killed and is moved back to “square one”.“square one”.

The PresidentThe President What role does the President What role does the President

play in the lawmaking play in the lawmaking process?process?

The President, perhaps, The President, perhaps, plays the simplest, yet also plays the simplest, yet also the largest role in the the largest role in the lawmaking process. Once a lawmaking process. Once a bill has made it through the bill has made it through the quagmire of Congress, it is quagmire of Congress, it is passed on to the President passed on to the President for the last step in the for the last step in the process: approval. If process: approval. If approved by the President, approved by the President, the bill finally becomes law. the bill finally becomes law. If vetoed, it does not become If vetoed, it does not become law unless a 2/3 vote from law unless a 2/3 vote from both the House and the both the House and the Senate override the veto.Senate override the veto.

Vice PresidentVice President What role does the Vice What role does the Vice

President have in the President have in the lawmaking process?lawmaking process?

The Vice President really The Vice President really plays no role in the plays no role in the legislative process. That is, legislative process. That is, he plays no part in the he plays no part in the actual debate in the House actual debate in the House and Senate floors that and Senate floors that determines whether a bill determines whether a bill be passed on to the be passed on to the President for approval. He President for approval. He just signs the bill once it is just signs the bill once it is ready to be passed on to the ready to be passed on to the President for approval.President for approval.

He can also serve as a tie-He can also serve as a tie-breaker voter in the breaker voter in the approval process, if need approval process, if need be.be.

Speaker of the HouseSpeaker of the House What role does the What role does the

Speaker of the House play Speaker of the House play in the lawmaking process?in the lawmaking process?

The Speaker of the House The Speaker of the House usually doesn’t take part usually doesn’t take part in the floor debates that in the floor debates that take place when the take place when the House and Senate are House and Senate are deciding on whether or deciding on whether or not to pass a bill. The not to pass a bill. The Speaker is like the Vice Speaker is like the Vice President, in that he (or President, in that he (or she) signs the bill if the she) signs the bill if the bill ends up making it to bill ends up making it to the President.the President.

House Majority LeaderHouse Majority Leader What role does the House What role does the House

Majority Leader play in Majority Leader play in the lawmaking process?the lawmaking process?

The House Majority The House Majority Leader serves, as one Leader serves, as one may guess, a leader over may guess, a leader over both parties in the both parties in the Senate, orchestrating Senate, orchestrating proceedings, such as proceedings, such as debate on a bill, the name debate on a bill, the name and size of committees, and size of committees, and serving as a floor and serving as a floor leader.leader.

House Minority WhipHouse Minority Whip What role does the House What role does the House

Minority Whip play in the Minority Whip play in the lawmaking process?lawmaking process?

A House Minority Whip A House Minority Whip almost serves as a almost serves as a security agent in the security agent in the House. His job in the House. His job in the legislative process is to legislative process is to make sure that elected make sure that elected Representatives are Representatives are present when important present when important votes are being taken, votes are being taken, and also to make sure and also to make sure that they vote according that they vote according to the party policy.to the party policy.

LobbyistLobbyist What role does a Lobbyist play in What role does a Lobbyist play in

the lawmaking process?the lawmaking process? Lobbyists aren’t very influential Lobbyists aren’t very influential

in the actual lawmaking process, in the actual lawmaking process, but they but they areare influential when influential when they think a certain bill should they think a certain bill should be introduced. The main purpose be introduced. The main purpose of a lobbyist is to persuade a of a lobbyist is to persuade a member of congress to enact a member of congress to enact a bill that they think should be bill that they think should be introduced.introduced.

They are also, in a sense, the They are also, in a sense, the stepping-stone between a normal stepping-stone between a normal citizen and a member of citizen and a member of congress. A citizen may want a congress. A citizen may want a bill to be introduced that they bill to be introduced that they think would benefit them, so think would benefit them, so they take their case to a lobbyist they take their case to a lobbyist and then the lobbyist will try and and then the lobbyist will try and persuade a Representative or a persuade a Representative or a Senator to introduce the Senator to introduce the proposed bill into legislation.proposed bill into legislation.

CitizensCitizens What role do citizens play in What role do citizens play in

the lawmaking process?the lawmaking process? One may think that Citizens of One may think that Citizens of

the United States have no role the United States have no role in the lawmaking process. In in the lawmaking process. In fact, they actually do have no fact, they actually do have no role in the actual process; role in the actual process; however, they however, they dodo have some have some sway in what bills are sway in what bills are introduced into legislation by introduced into legislation by having the power to vote for having the power to vote for certain Representatives that certain Representatives that promise to introduce certain promise to introduce certain bills into legislation. In that bills into legislation. In that sense, they do have some say sense, they do have some say in what bills are introduced.in what bills are introduced.

They can also pay a lobbyist to They can also pay a lobbyist to persuade a member of persuade a member of Congress to enact a bill if they Congress to enact a bill if they think it will benefit them.think it will benefit them.

Works CitedWorks Cited

"The Legislative Process." "The Legislative Process." The Center The Center On CongressOn Congress. Web. 4 Nov 2010. <. Web. 4 Nov 2010. <http://www.centeroncongress.org/bachttp://www.centeroncongress.org/backgrounders/the_legislative_process.pkgrounders/the_legislative_process.phphp>. >.

"How a Bill Becomes a Law Board "How a Bill Becomes a Law Board Game." Game." Families USAFamilies USA. Web. 7 Nov . Web. 7 Nov 2010. <2010. <http://www.familiesusa.org/resourceshttp://www.familiesusa.org/resources/tools-for-advocates/tips/board-game./tools-for-advocates/tips/board-game.htmlhtml>. >.

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