Essential Question: How does a bill become a law?
How a Bill becomes a Law:
I. Introduction
-May only be introduced/sponsored by a member of Congress
-Drafted and given a number ("H0001" or "S0001")
II. Committee
-Collects information, resources, revises (may go to subcommittee)
-Vote:
*Kill (reject immediately or pigeonhole[set aside without consideration])
*Accept (Pass without changes, make changes, or replace)
III. Floor (Full House or Senate)
-Bill read and debated in the house that introduced it
*House of Representatives has strict rules of debate
*Senate has freer debates and may filibuster it (talk until sponsor withdraws) unless clotured, which requires 60% vote to limit Senator to 1 hour of debate
-Vote
*Ways to vote: voice vote, standing vote, roll-call vote
*Kill or approved
*If approved, bill goes to other house for approval
IV. Conference Committee
-Creates a compromised version of the bill
-Sends back to both houses for approval
V. Final Approval
-After both houses agree on bill, it is sent to the President
-President decides to either:
*Sign/Approve it--->LAW!!!
*Reject it
*Veto
*Pocket Veto (when he sits it aside; if Congress is not in session, bill dies)
Congress can override vetoes with 2/3 vote in both houses