Post on 30-Dec-2015
THE FEDERAL THE FEDERAL LAWMAKING LAWMAKING
PROCESSPROCESS(or, the exciting (or, the exciting process of how a process of how a bill becomes a bill becomes a
law)law)
ARTICLE I, ARTICLE I, SECTION 5SECTION 5
• describe the general process of how a bill becomes a law
• identify the many different groups involved in the lawmaking process
• evaluate the positive and negative aspects of the lawmaking process
Once this presentation is complete, you should be able to:
What is a BILL?
A BILL is a draft or idea
for a law
Who comes up with the ideas for bills?
ANYONEANYONEYou, me, your parents,
the President, interest groups, Congress,
people
How does a bill become a law?How does a bill become a law?
It is a long process
but once you get the hang of of it, it’s not too confusing!
We will be looking at 10 basic steps in the lawmaking process
For each step, pay close attention, and take careful and concise notes
… and then we will sing
PROPOSALMake July 10 Federal Soccer
Day
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
NOTE - The lawmaking process may begin in either the Senate or the House of Representatives!!
NOTE - The lawmaking process may begin in either the Senate or the House of Representatives!!
Except for REVENUE, or tax bills - they must begin in the House of RepresentativesExcept for REVENUE, or tax bills - they must begin in the House of Representatives(it’s in the Constitution)(it’s in the Constitution)
1) A bill is 1) A bill is introduced into introduced into the the House of House of
RepresentativesRepresentatives by a by a
RepresentativeRepresentative
1) A bill is 1) A bill is introduced into introduced into the the House of House of
RepresentativesRepresentatives by a by a
RepresentativeRepresentative
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
2) Committee Action2) Committee Actioncommittees act as filtersfilters for bills of
common subjects
committees investigateinvestigate the bill
Committees can:report the bill to the entire House favorably
or unfavorablychange or amend the bill
kill the bill - “pigeonhole” it
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
D
A
V3) The Bill goes to the The Bill goes to the House FloorHouse Floor for for
actionactionOn the House Floor, the Representatives can debate, amend, and vote on the bill
A majority (50%+1) of the House must approve the bill for it to move on
Some interesting tidbits about debate and voting in the House
Debate is limited in the House of Representatives
Votes are public - not secret Votes are usually taken electronically
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
4) A similar 4) A similar bill is bill is
introduced introduced into the into the
SENATE SENATE by a by a SenatorSenator
4) A similar 4) A similar bill is bill is
introduced introduced into the into the
SENATE SENATE by a by a SenatorSenator
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
5) Committee Action5) Committee Actioncommittees act as filtersfilters for bills of
common subjectscommittees investigateinvestigate the bill
Committees can:report the bill to the entire Senate favorably
or unfavorablychange or amend the bill
kill the bill - “pigeonhole” it
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
6) The bill goes to the Senate Floor for action
Senators can debate, amend, and vote on the bill
If the bill receives a majority (50%+1) vote, the bill will move on
D
A
V
Some interesting tidbits of info about debating and voting in
the Senate • Voting is done usually by roll call,
public
• Debate in the Senate is UNLIMITED!
• Senators can talk for as long as they possibly can - this is called a filibusterfilibuster
What is the record?
24 hours and 18 minutes
Some interesting tidbits of info about debating and voting in
the Senate • Senators can add different
laws to the bills being discussed.
• These additions are often called riders
• Such bills are referred to as CHRISTMAS TREE BILLS
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
7) If the bill passed by the Senate is DIFFERENT than the bill passed by the House (it usually is), the bill goes to a
Conference Committee
• The Conference Committee is made up of leaders of the House and Senate Standing Committees that investigated the bill
• They will meet and try to iron out the differences and pass the bill through both houses again
LOBBYISTS• Representatives of special
interests groups who meet with members of both houses to try to persuade them to vote for specific programs
• Some are full time, some are hired out
• Registered Federal Lobbyist Database
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
8) After the Conference Committee, the bill is quickly passed through both
houses of Congress…..
8) and the ENROLLED bill is signed by both presiding officers and sent to
the White House
Follow the Soccer BillFollow the Soccer Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
9) Presidential Action – 9) Presidential Action – four optionsfour options
The President can sign the bill -
the bill becomes law
The President can choose to not sign the bill within 10 days
the bill becomes a law (without the support of the President)
The President
can vetoveto the bill
the bill goes back the bill goes back to Congressto Congress
the bill goes back the bill goes back to Congressto Congress
The President can make a
pocket vetoif the President does not
sign the bill, and Congress adjourns
within 10 days, the bill DIES!!
Follow the Schwieters BillFollow the Schwieters Bill
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
10) If the President VETOES the bill, THE BILL IS NOT DEAD
it can still become a law IF both houses override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote
2/32/3 2/32/3
Where can the Soccer bill die?Where can the Soccer bill die?
1) Intro in the House
2) House Committee
Action
3) House Floor Action
4) Intro in the Senate
5) Senate Committee
Action6) Senate Floor
Action
7) Conference Committee
8) Both houses, sent to President
9)Presidential
Action
10) Congressional
override
Some lawmaking statisticsSome lawmaking statistics
• In the 106th Congress (1999-2000), In the 106th Congress (1999-2000), 5,8155,815 bills were introduced in the House, bills were introduced in the House, 3,3433,343 in the Senatein the Senate
• 580580 bills were enacted or passed both bills were enacted or passed both houses during the 106th Congresshouses during the 106th Congress
• President Clinton vetoed President Clinton vetoed 12 12 pieces of pieces of legislation (11 regular, 1 pocket)legislation (11 regular, 1 pocket)
• Congress was able to override Congress was able to override 00 of of President Clinton’s vetoesPresident Clinton’s vetoes