The Legislative BranchHow a Bill Becomes a Law

Section 4

I can describe the process how a bill becomes a law.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Bills Congress Considers

Congress considers several different kinds of legislation each year. Most pieces of legislation are in the form of bills.

Bills generally fall into two Categories.• Private bills concern individual people or places.• Public bills apply to the entire nation and involve general matter such as taxation.

-Many resolutions do not have the force of law. Joint resolutions passed by both houses of Congress, do become laws because they are signed by the president. Congress uses joint resolutions to propose constitutional amendments and to designate money for a special purpose.

How a Bill Becomes a Law From Bill to Law

To become a law, a bill must be passed in identical form by both chambers of Congress.

•Every bill starts with an idea.•The ideas for new bills come from private citizens, the White House, or from special-interest groups- organizations made up of people with common interests.• A senator or representative must introduce a bill before Congress will consider it.

Committee Action•After a bill is introduced it is sent to the standing committee.•The committee can pass the bill, mark up a bill with changes and suggest that it be passed, replace it with a new bill, ignore it and let it die, (Pigeon Hole) or kill the bill.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Debating a Bill

• Bills approved in committee are ready for consideration by the full House or Senate.• When bills reach the floor of the House or Senate, the members argue their pros and cons.• The House accepts only amendments relevant to the bill.• The Senate allows rider to be tacked onto the bill.

Rules of DebateIn the House, the Rules Committee sets the terms for debate. It usually puts time limits on the discussion.•The Senate, because it is smaller, has fewer rules. Senators can speak as long as they wish. At times they take advantage of this custom to filibuster, or talk a bill to death. The Senate can end a filibuster if three-fifths of the members vote for cloture. Under this procedure no one can speak for more than a hour.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Voting on a Bill

•After a bill is debated, it is brought to a vote.•Voting in the House is done one of three ways.•A voice vote- those in favor say “Yea” and those against say “No”.•Standing vote- those in favor stand to be counted and then those against it stand to be counted.•Recorded vote- members votes are recorded electronically.•The Senate has three methods of voting: a voice vote, a standing vote and a roll call. In a roll call vote, senators respond “Aye” or “No” as their names are called.•If the bill passes in one house, it is sent to the other.• If either the Senate or the House rejects a bill, it dies.

How a Bill Becomes a Law Action by the President

-After a bill is approved, it goes to the president.-Then, one of four things may happen:1. The president may sign the bill and

declare it a new law.2. The president may veto, or refuse to

sign the bill.3. The president may choose to do

nothing for 10 days. -At that point, if Congress is in

session, the bill becomes a law without the presidents signature. If Congress has adjourned, the bill dies. Killing legislation in this process is called a pocket veto.

4. If the president vetoes a bill, Congress has one last chance to save it.

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How a Bill Becomes a Law

Bill to Law