5.4: How a Bill Becomes a Law

(7:40)

How a Bill Begins

The House and the Senate Consider the Bill

The President Acts on the Bill

Vocabulary

bill

appropriation bill

act

filibuster

cloture

veto

pocket veto

How a Bill Begins

Bill- proposed law

long and difficult process

helps ensure that the laws are good ones

Congress Considers Legislation

Can start in either the House or Senate An appropriation bill,

bill approving the spending of money, must begin in the House

Must be approved by both houses

President signs into law, also known as an act

Sources of Legislation

Ideas for bills come from US citizens,

organized groups, congressional

committees, members of Congress, and

the president

Citizens in a representatives’ district are

known as constituents

President outlines ideas for laws in his

State of the Union address

The House and the Senate Consider

the Bill

Assigned letters and a number (HR1215)

HR is where it started

1215 is the place among bills introduced

Goes into Congressional Record- a

publication that covers daily business

The Bill is Sent to Committee

A standing committee is a permanent

congressional committee that meets

regularly

Call witnesses to testify for and against bill

The House Acts on the Bill

Speaker of the House determines when and where a bill will be debated

House Rules Committee decides how much time to debate bill

When all discussion is finished, the bill as a whole is voted on

A quorum- majority of the members- must be present in order to do business

If bill passes House sent to the Senate

The Senate Acts on the Bill

Same process as House except unlimited

amount of time to talk

Filibuster- talking the bill to death

Limits can be placed if approved by 3/5

Cloture- ending debate and voting

Final Bill is Sent to the President

A conference committee made up of

senators and representatives work to

reach a compromise on the bill

Then sent to president

The President Acts on the Bill

1. Sign and declare law

2. Veto: sent back to

Congress with message

of why it was rejected

3. Keep for 10 days

Congress in session: no signature- becomes

law

Not in session: bill is killed by pocket veto

Do not use pocket veto often

Congress can override a presidential veto

with 2/3 vote of both houses

President may offer legislation, and then

request, suggest, or demand Congress

pass it

Making a Law: Long and Involved

Process may be long, a lot of work, and

slow but provides making necessary laws

and preventing hasty legislation

Ensures bills signed into law are important

and useful