Bill to Law

Bill to Law – House of Reps

1. Bill introduced by a ­­­­­­­­­___­­­­­_Congressmen___ and given a name and number do not write bills 

A. Anyone can write a bill but must be sponsored by a congressman

B. Most bills written by a member of the Executive Branch

2. Referred to _____Standing__________________ Committee

3. Referred to ______Subcommitee_________________ for study, hearings, revision  

4. ____Vote____ by ____subcommittee_____, if passes then moves on

5. Referred back to the full Committee for more _______hearings and revisions_____

6. Vote by the full Standing Committee, if passes then moves on -

MOST BILLS DIE IN COMMITTEE

Rules committee doesn’t like the bill; dies and is not put on the Congressional calendar 

7. Bill goes to ______Rules Committee_____ for conditions of debate (only in House)

8. Bill is debated then voted by the entire ______House__________

9. If passes, then goes to ________Senate______________ and the process repeats.

10.If the bill passes the Senate but the version is different than the House bill then it goes to a ____Conference Committee_______________________ which resolves differences between the House and Senate versions

11.­­­­­­­_______Final version______________________ is voted upon by the House

Bill to Law – Senate

12.Process is the same in the Senate as the House with the following differences:

a. No ________Rules Committeee_________________________

b. Structure is more ___informal________. Very few rules for ___debate______

c. Need _____unanimous___________to bring bill to a vote

d. Gives rise to a ____fillibuster________

i. Purpose is to ___kill__________ a Bill

 ii. _____Cloture________ – Need ______3/5________ Senators to pass which will end debate.

13.Presidential Options

a. ______Sign Bill to Law_______________________________________

b. _____Veto Bill________________________________________

c. ________Silent Veto_____________________________________

d. ________Pocket Veto_____________________________________

Key Terms:

Rider - additional provision added to bill usually having little connection to the subject matter of the bill

Log rolling - Congressman exchange one voter for another

Pork Barrel / Earmarks - A rider where a congressman secures govt. spending for localized projects primarily to bring money to a representative’s district