the lawmaking process 11
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
THE FEDERAL THE FEDERAL LAWMAKING LAWMAKING
PROCESSPROCESS(or, How a (or, How a
bill bill becomes a becomes a
law)law)
Article I, Article I, Section 7Section 7
A BILL A BILL is a is a
draft or draft or idea for idea for
a lawa law
Both houses can Both houses can also pass also pass
RESOLUTIONS, RESOLUTIONS, which are which are
official official statements (but statements (but
not laws)not laws)
NOTE - The lawmaking process may begin in either the Senate
or the House of Representatives!!
NOTE - The lawmaking process may begin in either the Senate
or the House of Representatives!!
Except for REVENUE, or tax bills - they must begin in the HouseExcept for REVENUE, or tax bills - they must begin in the House(it’s in the Constitution)(it’s in the Constitution)
committees act as filtersfilters for bills of
common subjects
LIST
reportreport the bill to the entire House favorably or the bill to the entire House favorably or unfavorablyunfavorably
changechange or or amendamend the bill the billkillkill the bill - “pigeonhole” it the bill - “pigeonhole” it
D
A
V3) The Bill goes to the The Bill goes to the House FloorHouse Floor for for
actionactionOn the House Floor, the Representatives can debate, amend, and vote on the bill
A majority (50%+1) of the House must approve the bill for it to move on
Debate is limited in the Debate is limited in the House House
Votes are public - not secretVotes are public - not secret
Votes are usually taken Votes are usually taken electronicallyelectronically
committees act as filtersfilters for bills of
common subjects
LIST
reportreport the bill to the entire House favorably or the bill to the entire House favorably or unfavorablyunfavorably
changechange or or amendamend the bill the billkillkill the bill - “pigeonhole” it the bill - “pigeonhole” it
6) The bill goes to the Senate Floor for action
Senators can debate, amend, and vote on the bill
If the bill receives a majority (50%+1) vote, the bill will move on
D
A
V
Some interesting tidbits of Some interesting tidbits of info about debating and info about debating and
voting in the Senate voting in the Senate • Voting is done usually by roll call, publicVoting is done usually by roll call, public• Debate in the Senate is Debate in the Senate is UNLIMITEDUNLIMITED!!• Senators can talk for as long as they Senators can talk for as long as they
possibly can - this is called apossibly can - this is called a filibuster filibuster
What is the record?
24 hours and 18 minutes
Some interesting tidbits of Some interesting tidbits of info about debating and info about debating and
voting in the Senate voting in the Senate • Senators can add different laws Senators can add different laws
to the bills being discussed.to the bills being discussed.• These additions are often called These additions are often called
ridersriders• Such bills are referred to as Such bills are referred to as
CHRISTMAS TREE BILLSCHRISTMAS TREE BILLS
Why? To help the bill get passed – Why? To help the bill get passed – of to make sure it doesn’t get of to make sure it doesn’t get
passedpassed
LOBBYISTSLOBBYISTS• Representatives of special Representatives of special
interests groups who meet interests groups who meet with members of both with members of both houses to try to persuade houses to try to persuade them to vote for specific them to vote for specific programsprograms
• Some are full time, some Some are full time, some are hired outare hired out
• Registered Federal Registered Federal Lobbyist Database Lobbyist Database
They will meet and try to They will meet and try to iron out the iron out the differencesdifferences and and pass the bill through both pass the bill through both
houses againhouses again
Presidential Action – Presidential Action – four optionsfour options
the bill goes back to the bill goes back to Congress, with a Congress, with a message from the message from the
PresidentPresident
Pocket VetoPocket Veto
2/32/3 2/32/3
What about theWhat about the Judicial Branch? Judicial Branch?
