Making Law: The House

Chapter 12 Section 3

Key Terms Bill Joint Resolution Concurrent

Resolution Resolution Rider

Pigeonhole Discharge petition Quorum Engrossed

The First Steps 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 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 Before introduction

letter is circulated Explains why the

sponsor thinks t is important

Tries to get several co-sponsors

Increases chance of passage

Types of Bills and Resolutions There are two

types of bills Public-apply to

the nation as a whole (taxes)

Private-apply to certain persons or places (helping farmers)

Joint Resolution 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

Concurrent Resolutions 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)

Resolution 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 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 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

Introduction and First Reading 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 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 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 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 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 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

The Bill in Committee Constitution

makes no mention of committees

Are absolutely essential

Sometimes called little legislatures

The Bill in Committee Standing

committees are sieves that sift through all the bills

Most are rejected Fate of most bills

decided in committee

The Bill in Committee 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 Discharge

position- force a bill that has remained in committee for 30 days onto the floor for consideration

The Bill in Committee 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 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 Committee at Work 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 Sometimes these

committees make trips

People criticize the expense of the trips

On the spot investigation is crucial to the committee

Committee Actions 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 Action Refuse to report

that bill (pigeonhole)

Report on the bill in amended form Changed in

committee Several similar bill

are combined

Committee Action 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

Scheduling Floor Debate Calendars there

are five Union Calendar House Calendar Private Calendar Corrections

Calendar Discharge

Calendar

Scheduling Floor Debate Bills are taken

from these calendars

Corrections calendars are considered on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month

Scheduling Floor Debate On Calendar

“Wednesdays” committee chairmen may call a bill from the Union Calendar

Rules Rules Committee

plays a critical role in the legislative process

Can set rules for how House members may consider a bill

Rules Rules committee

must approve a time for its appearance on the floor.

By not granting the rule, the Rules committee kills the bill

Rules Certain bills are

privileged Appropriations

bills, general revenue (tax bills)

Conference committee reports

Certain days House may suspend all rules

The Bill on the Floor 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 A quorum must

be present for the house to do business

Quorum-is a majority of the full membership (in the House 218 members)

Debate 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 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

Voting Can be subject to

several votes House uses four

different methods for taking a floor vote

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

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

Voting Since 1973 done

by computer Vote yea, nay,

present A large board

above the speakers head show the voting

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