Bill in the Senate

The Bill in the Senate

Introducing the Bill

• Upon entering the Senate, the bill is read twice, and then referred to committee

The Filibuster

• Filibuster - an attempt to “talk a bill to death”

• A stalling tactic, in which minority senators seek to delay or prevent Senate action on a measure

  • Needs 51 votes to pass

  • Needs 60 votes to stop debate

• There is no time limit to give speech

• Ex.

  • Ted Cruz reading Green Eggs and Ham (He actually did this google it)

The Cloture Rule

• Cloture - limiting debate

• A vote must be taken two days after a petition calling for the action has been submitted by at least 16 members of the Senate

• If ⅗ of the Senators vote for the motion, it becomes effective

• It limits debate time to 30 hours, and then a vote must be taken

• Not used very much

Conference Committees

The President Acts

• The president has four options:

1. Sign the bill, and it becomes a law through a signing statement

   1. Signing statement states specific ways that the bill can be applied

2. Veto - Refuse with a veto statement

   1. It goes back to the House in which it is organized, it can still be passed with a ⅔ vote in each House

3. Not act - It will then become a law in 10 days, not counting Sundays

4. Pocket Veto - if Congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President does not act, the measure dies