How a Bill Becomes a LawLibertyville HS – Government
How a Bill . . . Class of 216 Bill
• Introducing a bill• HR (House Resolution) 216: ???• Bill written and introduced in House or Senate
• In our example, bill introduced by US Representative Brad Schneider in the House of Reps.
Rep. Schneider
From Introduction to House Committee
• After introduction, bill assigned to Standing Committee based on its subject matter• Subject matter =
what the bill is all about
• Our example = ???• Once in committee,
generally referred to subcommittee
Swearing in a witness, Senate hearing
Subcommittee Action
• Study• Review documents,
examine evidence of problem
• Hearings• Hear from experts,
proponents, opponents• Revision
• Amendments (changes) to bill
• Vote by subcommittee• Yes = goes to Committee• No = bill dies
Transportation subcommitteeHearing testimony
Full Committee Consideration
• Hearings• Hear testimony from
experts, proponents, opponents
• Revisions• Amendments (changes)
to bill• Full committee vote
• Yes = goes to House floor (via Rules Comm.)
• No = bill dies• MOST BILLS DIE IN
COMMITTEE!!!
Bill Gates testifying at a US Senatecommittee hearing
From Standing Committee to Rules Committee
• “Rules” set for bill• Governs floor action for bill
(length of debate, # of amendments)
• Sets calendar of debate on house floor (order of bills)
• “Privileged” bills go to the floor out of order of the legislative calendar – whenever Speaker wants
Rules Room
House Floor Action and Passage
• Debate• Each political party gets a
certain amount of time to speak
• Floor amendments• Changes to bill proposed
during debate• Floor vote
• Yes = bill passes to Senate
• No = bill dies
For gavel to gavel coverageFor the political junkies . . . C-SPAN!
How a Bill Becomes a law: Interlude
I’m just a bill . . .
Second Chamber Consideration
• In our example, our bill goes to the Senate and is given a Senate number
• S 911• Bill assigned to a
standing committee• In our case, what
standing committee?
Senate Chamber
Senate Subcommittee Action
• Bill referred to subcommittee• More study• More Hearings• More revision
(amendments)• Subcommittee vote
• Yes = bill goes to full committee
• No = bill dies
Full Committee Consideration
• Hearings• Revision
(amendments)• Committee vote
• If yes, goes to Senate floor
• If no, bill dies• Senate leadership
takes a position on bill (for or against)
Senate hearing on Insurance reform
Senate Floor Action
• Senate debate• No limits on how long
a senator may speak• Ex – Sen. Ted Cruz
• Filibuster possible• Talking a bill to death• Purpose = to assure
the political minority’s viewpoint is considered
• Lead to compromise• Closing off debate is
called cloture• Requires 60 votes (3/5)• Very rare; generally,
compromise occurs
Senate Floor Action
• Senate floor vote• Yes
• If no revisions in senate, bill goes to the president
• If bill has been revised (amended) in Senate, then bill must go to Conference Committee
• No = bill dies Senate floor vote on bailout package, 2009
Conference Committee
• Constitution requires all legislation passed by both chambers to be identical
• Conference Committees are appointed to resolve differences• ad hoc committees (means
for the particular purpose)• Appointed by the four leaders
of the House, Senate• Usually the senior members
of the House, Senate standing committees
• Does not have to be equal in numbers from the H & S
• Must hold at least one public hearing
Conference Committeemeeting
Conference Committee Report (CCR)
• Negotiations of members = CCR
• Majority of members from each chamber must agree to language of CCR
• If agreed, the CCR goes to House, Senate
• Entire House and Senate must each approve the CCR• If yes, bill goes to president• If no, bill dies
Checks and Balances: The President
• President can sign bill, and it becomes law
• President can veto bill• Returns to both House and Senate• House, Senate may vote to
overturn veto• Need 2/3 votes in each chamber
to overturn veto• Pocket Veto
• Constitution says president must sign or veto a bill within 10 days, not counting Sundays• If no action and Congress in session,
bill becomes law• If no action and Congress is NOT in
session (adjourned), bill dies (PV)