Legislative Branch Notes

Structure of Congress

• Bicameral legislature: Consists of two houses, the Senate (“upper house”) and the House of Representatives (“lower house”).

Leadership of Congress

• House of Representatives

• Leader: Speaker of the House (chosen by majority party)

• Senate

• Leader: U.S. Vice president

• Vice prez serves as President of the Senate

• President Pro-tempore: majority leader or someone who leads the Senate day to day work

Lawmaking Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. Introduction: Bill MUST be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate by a member of Congress.

2. Committee: Bill is then assigned to a committee for examination, where it will be researched, debated, & voted.

3. Floor: If the committee approves the bill, it is sent to the floor for debate and a vote by the full chamber.

4. Other House: system is repeated

5. Committee, round 2: RDV (research, debate, vote)

6. Floor, round 2: Debate & vote

7. Conference Committee: Both bills of Senate & HOR are not exactly the same, then conference committee. They MUST agree on 1 final version.

8. Both Houses Vote: The final bill version is sent back to both houses & voted upon.

9. President: Bill is sent to the President, who can sign it into law or veto it. If vetoed; sent back to Congress. Congress can override the veto by 2/3 majority vote of both houses.