How A Bill Becomes a Law

Less than 10% of all bills become laws. Why?

Lawmaking is long and complicated. – 100 steps to pass a bill into law– Bills can be delayed, changed, or killed

Sponsors of a bill must be willing to compromise with lawmakers and interest groups.– Must get lots of support to pass

Members of Congress may introduce bills they know have no chance of passing. – Attract attention from media – Satisfy powerful interest groups at home– Help with reelection (can blame other lawmakers and

report they took action).

Step 1 Every Bill starts out

as an idea These ideas can come

from Congress, private citizens, or from the White House

Special Interest Groups may also try to influence Congress to write a Bill

Step 2 Every Bill must be

introduced by a Congressman – either a Senator or a House Member

Introducing a bill in House vs. Senate

Every Bill is given a title and number when it is introduced – H.R.1 or S.1

Step 3 After it is

introduced, each Bill is then sent to the standing committee that seems most qualified to handle it.

Step 4 Committees receive

hundreds of Bills and they decide the life or death of these bills

Those that hold merit are sent to a subcommittee to research (public hearings may be held)

Step 5 Committee meets in

a markup session to make changes to the bill (if necessary)

After reviewing the Bill, the committee decides – Pass without changes– Pass it with changes– Kill the Bill

Step 6 If a Bill is approved by the

committee, then it is ready for consideration by the full House or the Senate.

When Bills reach the floor, the members argue their pros and cons

Step 7 When members of Congress

are ready to vote they may do so by– Voice Vote– Standing Vote– Roll-call – Recorded vote

A simple majority is all that is needed to pass a Bill. If either house refuses to pass it, it dies

The Bill must be passed in identical formats in both houses – conference committees may be needed

Sent to president

Step 8 Presidential

Action is the final step– Veto: refuse to sign

Congress can override the veto with a 2/3rds vote in each house – very unlikely

– Sign the Bill into Law– Do nothing for 10

days In session – the Bill

becomes a Law

The End

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFroMQlKiag