making law: the house
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Making Law: The House. Chapter 12 Section 3. Key Terms. Bill Joint Resolution Concurrent Resolution Resolution Rider. Pigeonhole Discharge petition Quorum Engrossed. Bill-is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration. Most bills do not originate in Congress - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Making Law: The House
Chapter 12 Section 3
Key Terms Bill Joint Resolution Concurrent
Resolution Resolution Rider
Pigeonhole Discharge petition Quorum Engrossed
The First Steps Bill-is a proposed
law presented to the House or Senate for consideration.
Most bills do not originate in Congress
Most of the important bill come from the executive branch
The First steps Business, labor,
agriculture and other special interest groups
Some bill come from private citizens who think
“there ought to be a law”
The First Steps Before introduction
letter is circulated Explains why the
sponsor thinks t is important
Tries to get several co-sponsors
Increases chance of passage
Types of Bills and Resolutions There are two
types of bills Public-apply to
the nation as a whole (taxes)
Private-apply to certain persons or places (helping farmers)
Joint Resolution Joint resolution-
are similar to bills when passed have the force of law
Usually deal with temporary matters
Used to propose constitutional amendments
To annex territories
Concurrent Resolutions Deal with matter
that the House and Senate must act on jointly
Do not have the force of law
Do not require a presidents signature
Used to state a position on some matter (foreign affairs)
Resolution Called simple
resolutions deal with matters concerning the House alone Used for adoption of
a new rule Have no force of law Do not require a
presidents signature
Resolution Unusually deals with
a single subject Sometimes a rider is
included Rider-is a
provision not likely to pass on its own is attached to an important matter
Hope they will ride through the process
Resolution Most riders are
attached onto appropriations bills
Money bills have some many riders they are called Christmas trees
Opponents and president are forced to sign
Introduction and First Reading Originating in the
House it has an H in front of the number
Originating from the Senate it has an S
Each bill has a sheet title (brief description)
Entered into House Journal and Congressional Record
Introduction and First Reading Journal contains the
minutes and official proceedings in Congress
Members have five days to change Change inaccurate or
thoughtless remarks Insert speeches This is first reading
Introduction and First Reading All bills are printed
after intro and passed out to House members
Each bill passed has three readings
Second reading come during floor consideration
Introduction and First Reading Third reading
takes place before the final vote.
Each reading is usually by number and title
Important or controversial bills are read in full and taken line for line
Introduction and First Reading Three readings ancient
parliamentary practice Intended to ensure
careful consideration Today just a way
station along their route
Important in early days when some members could not read
Introduction and First Reading After first reading
the Speaker refers it to appropriate standing committee
Bills content determines where it goes
If issues are complex it could given to one of several committees
The Bill in Committee Constitution
makes no mention of committees
Are absolutely essential
Sometimes called little legislatures
The Bill in Committee Standing
committees are sieves that sift through all the bills
Most are rejected Fate of most bills
decided in committee
The Bill in Committee Pigeonholed-
they are buried and die in committee
Sometime the committee buries a bill of the majority
Can be brought out by a discharge petition
The Bill in Committee Discharge
position- force a bill that has remained in committee for 30 days onto the floor for consideration
The Bill in Committee If motion is signed by
218 house members the House has 7 days to report the bill
If not the person who signed the bill on the second and fourth Monday can move to discharge the bill
The Bill in Committee Last successful in
2002 in Bipartisan Campaign Reform act of 2002
The House leadership had buried it for years
First change in campaign law in 23 years
The Committee at Work Chairman refers it
to one of several subcommittees Hold hearings People invited to
testify Committee can
issue a subpoena Can force witness
to testify
The Committee at Work Sometimes these
committees make trips
People criticize the expense of the trips
On the spot investigation is crucial to the committee
Committee Actions When
subcommittee is done it goes to the full committee
May report on the bill favorably Chairmen’s job to
steer it through floor debate
Committee Action Refuse to report
that bill (pigeonhole)
Report on the bill in amended form Changed in
committee Several similar bill
are combined
Committee Action Report the bill with
unfavorable recommendation
Gives House the chance to consider the bill
Do not want to be responsible for killing it
Report a bill to committee
New bill substituted for on of several bills referred
Scheduling Floor Debate Calendars there
are five Union Calendar House Calendar Private Calendar Corrections
Calendar Discharge
Calendar
Scheduling Floor Debate Bills are taken
from these calendars
Corrections calendars are considered on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month
Scheduling Floor Debate On Calendar
“Wednesdays” committee chairmen may call a bill from the Union Calendar
Rules Rules Committee
plays a critical role in the legislative process
Can set rules for how House members may consider a bill
Rules Rules committee
must approve a time for its appearance on the floor.
By not granting the rule, the Rules committee kills the bill
Rules Certain bills are
privileged Appropriations
bills, general revenue (tax bills)
Conference committee reports
Certain days House may suspend all rules
The Bill on the Floor Receives a second
reading when it reaches the floor
Committee of the whole includes all members of the House as one committee
Speaker steps down led by a member
The Bill on the Floor A quorum must
be present for the house to do business
Quorum-is a majority of the full membership (in the House 218 members)
Debate House has imposed
limits on debate In 1842 rule
developed that no one could hold the floor longer than 1 hour
Speaker can force you to give up the floor
Debate Majority and minority
floor leaders decide how to split floor time
A member can demand a vote at any time
If motion is adopted debate ends
Up and down vote is then taken
Voting Can be subject to
several votes House uses four
different methods for taking a floor vote
Voting Voice votes are
the most common. Speaker calls for yea or nay
If a member thinks the speaker erred in a voice vote they can demand a standing vote
Voting Teller vote- 1/5
quorum in house Speaker names
tellers and they collect the votes
A roll call vote-vote of record can be done if 1/5 request it
Voting Since 1973 done
by computer Vote yea, nay,
present A large board
above the speakers head show the voting
Final steps in the House Engrossed-once a
bill has been approved at second reading or printed in final form
Read for third time Vote is taken Speaker signs it and
it it taken to the Senate