Unit 2.2

Congress and Lawmaking

I. Working Together in LawmakingA. Speech & Debate Clause-

Art I Sec 6- Gives members of Congress immunity from lawsuits for statements made in legislative chambers

B. Compromise- blending and adjusting competing views and interests to accomplish something

C. Consensus- agreement between groups

D. Negotiation- meet and talk with others to create compromise or agreement

II. Congressional OrganizationA. Congressional

committees- established groups on specific issues for oversight, management, or writing legislation1. standing

committees- permanent committees

2. select committees- temporary committees that deal with specific issues (usually just to investigate)

3. joint committees- has members of both houses4. subcommittees- smaller within committees

-Veterans' Affairs, -Armed Services-Energy and Natural Resources-Health, Education,Labor, and Pensions-Select Committee on Intelligence

House Committee on Financial ServicesSubcommittees:Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit& Monetary Policy and Trade

-Junior Senator –Armed Services-Sea power- Judiciary

B. Committee Assignments1. Seniority system- senators and reps who

have been in longest get preferred committee spots

2. Party in power controls chairmanship

III. How a Bill Becomes a Law

A. Types of Bills Passed1. Private Bills- individual people or places2. Public Bills- apply to entire nation and

involve general matters (ex: taxation, Medicare)

$116 Billion for Katrina relief

HR 3200- America's Affordable Health Choices Act

3. Resolutions- formal approved statements on lawmakers opinions or decisionsa. Joint Resolution- passed by both houses and

law if signed by President (same as a bill)b. Non-binding Resolutions - are not law but

just say lawmakers opinions

B. Step 1- Introducing1. Can start in either Senate or House 2. A Senator or a Representative introduce a

bill for Congress to considera. Given title and numberb. Other congressmen can attach their names

C. Step 2- Committee Action1. Proposed bill is sent to appropriate

committee2. Committee can:

a. Pass bill as isb. Pass bill w/changesc. Replace w/new billd. Ignore bill to die (“pigeonholing”)e. Kill bill w/majority vote

D. Step 3- Debating 1. Bills passed in committee go for

consideration by the whole House or Senate

2. Rules of Debate- In the House, Rules Committee sets terms for debate, usually time limits

3. Filibuster- talking a bill to deatha. In Senate, no time limit for speakingb. Senator can delay vote by speaking for hours

until the bill’s sponsor withdraws itc. Vote for cloture- end filibuster with 3/5 vote

(most bills must pass with 60 votes)

E. Step 4- Voting1. voice vote- verbally say “Yea” or “No”2. standing vote- stand and be counted for

yes or no3. roll-call vote- respond when names are

called

F. Step 5- Sent to Other House1. If bill passed in one house, it is sent to the

other for approval2. Senate and House must pass identical bills3. If disagreements, a conference

committee from both houses meets to work out differences

G. Step 6- Signing 1. President can sign2. President can veto (Congress can override

with 2/3 but this is rare)3. President can do nothing

a. If Congress is in session, bill passesb. If not, it is pocket vetoed

STOP• Watch the following filibusters and

decide for your self if you think they play an important role in lawmaking.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scTFsGQ78qs

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX8aFpnWxPA

• https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=rand+paul's+filibuster+on+drones+youtube&FORM=VIRE4#view=detail&mid=696CD00448E29107C2AB696CD00448E29107C2AB

Senate Committees

• Group 1: Environment and Public Works • Group 2: Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs • Group 3: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions • Group 4: Finance• Group 5: Homeland Security and Governmental

Affairs • Group 6: Commerce, Science, and Transportation • Group 7: Foreign Relations• Group 8: Budget• Group 9: Energy & Natural Resources

Come up with an idea of a bill that you think should be passed by Congress.

Group Activity

• In your group once you come up with an idea write up a bill.

• One person in your group should be chosen to go and talk with other members of groups to see if they can get someone to sign on.

• Go to the Majority Leader and see if they will agree to bring your bill to the Senate floor.

• Brainstorm first on what type of bill you would like to propose. Everyone needs to participate in the bill making process.

• There will need to be a – Secretary: who writes up the bill– Reader: Reads sample bills, and tries to

get others to sign on as co-sponsors– Runner: Gets all material & puts all

material away.– Team Captain: Makes sure everyone is

on task and delegates responsibilities also needs to write up and summarize each of the sample bills. What is the bill? Who does it effect? What would change if it was passed?