Congress at Work

How a Bill Becomes a Law

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nKyihoV9z8

Types of Bills

• Private Bills: deal with individual people or places

• Public Bills: deal with general matters and apply to the entire nation

Turn to Chapter 7 Guided Reading Activity, Turn to page

181 for Popcorn reading of section 1

Used to fix internal (unusual/temporary) matters

• Simple Resolutions: Covers matters affecting only one house of Congress and is passed by one house alone

• Concurrent Resolutions: covers matters requiring the action of both the Senate and the House, but which a law is not needed

Resolutions

Resolutions

• Joint Resolutions: resolution passed by both houses - Includes President’s signature which gives it the force of law

This drawing shows Uncle Sam angrily raising the flag towards the star that says "Free Cuba." Underneath his outstretched hand is the sinking USS Maine and on the desk, under a sword, is a Joint Resolution of Congress. Guess what it would be a resolution for... WAR!

JOINT RESOLUTION Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial Government of Japan and the Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same. Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Government of Japan which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial Government of Japan; and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK8gYGg0dkE

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Introducing a Bill

• Introduction:– Proposition from citizens, interest groups, the

president, or other officials in the exec.– Must be introduced by a member in congress– House of Reps: Hopper– Senate: Majority leader recognizes the

sponsor, who then formally introduces the bill– Each bill is assigned a title and number

The “Hopper” in the House of Reps is attached to the clerk’s desk.

Introducing a Bill

• Committee Action:– Chairs send the bill to sub-committees– Pigeonhole: ignore and simply let it die– Kill bill by majority vote– Rewrite, change, recommend for adoption

Introducing a Bill• Committee Hearings:

– Hear from witnesses: experts on the matter, government officials, or interest groups

– Gather info

• Mark-up Session:– Decide what changes, if any, to make in the

bill– Goes back to committee; either killed or

approved

• Reporting a Bill:– Sent to the House or Senate floor for vote

Floor Action

• Debating and Amending Bills:– Clerk reads the bill section by section– Any lawmaker can propose amendments– Could be used to stop the bill from passing– Amendments are only added if the majority of

the House/Senate present approves them

• Voting on Bills:– Quorum must be present: _______________ – Passage requires a majority of all the

members presenthttp://www.c-span.org/video/?c3342158/establishing-quorum-house

Extras

• Riders: a provision on a subject other than the one covered in the original bill

Why do so few bills become laws?!?

There were supposed to be 5 sculptures at this National Monument, the fifth…Susan B. Anthony.  A rider to the Congressional bill for Ms. Anthony was killed and so we have but four men on the mountain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ_4LQ96Pds

Final Steps in Passing Bills

• Conference Committee Action:– House and Senate members – usually worked

with the bill while in committee– Conferees or managers– They work out the bills and draft one final bill

– conference report– Present it back to their chamber – Once approved, it’s sent to the President

Presidential Action

• Passing a Bill: – Sign it– Have it sit for 10 days, while still in session

• Vetoing Bills:– Veto: president’s refusal to sign a bill– Pocket Veto: refusal to sign a bill passed in

the last 10 days of session

• Congressional Override:– 2/3 vote in both houses