THE FEDERAL
LAWMAKING
PROCESS
(or, the exciting
process of how a
bill becomes a
law)
ARTICLE I,
Once this presentation is complete, you should be able to:
• describe the general process of how a bill
becomes a law
• identify the many different groups
involved in the lawmaking process
• evaluate the positive and negative aspects
of the lawmaking process
What is a BILL?
A BILL is
a draft or
idea for a
law
Who comes up with the
ideas for bills?
ANYONE
You, me, your parents,
the President, interest
groups, Congress,
people
How does a bill
become a law?
It is a long process
but once you get the hang of of it, it’s not
too confusing!
We will be looking at 10 basic steps in the
lawmaking process
For each step, pay close attention, and take
careful and concise notes
… and then we will sing
PROPOSAL
Make July 10
Federal Soccer
Day
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
NOTE - The lawmaking process
may begin in either the Senate or
the House of Representatives!!
Except for REVENUE, or tax bills - they must
begin in the House of Representatives
(it’s in the Constitution)
1) A bill is
introduced into
the House of
Representatives
by a
Representative
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
2) Committee Action
committees act as filters for bills of
common subjects
committees investigate the bill
Committees can:
report the bill to the entire House favorably or
unfavorably
change or amend the bill
kill the bill - “pigeonhole” it
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
D
A
V
3)
AOn
majority
The
goes
(50%+1)
to the
ofHouse
the House
Floor
must
for
theBill
House
Floor,
the
Representatives
can
debate,the
amend,
anditvote
on theon
bill
approve
bill
action
for
to move
Some interesting tidbits about
debate and voting in the House
Debate is limited in the
House of Representatives
Votes are public - not secret
Votes are usually taken
electronically
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
4) A similar
bill is
introduced
into the
SENATE by a
Senator
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
5) Committee Action
committees act as filters for bills of
common subjects
committees investigate the bill
Committees can:
report the bill to the entire Senate favorably
or unfavorably
change or amend the bill
kill the bill - “pigeonhole” it
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
6)
The
billcan
goes
to the
Senate and
Floor
for
debate,
amend,
vote
IfSenators
the bill
receives
a majority
(50%+1)
action
on
thewill
billmove on
vote, the bill
D
A
V
Some interesting tidbits of info
about debating and voting in
the Senate
• Voting is done usually by
roll call, public
• Debate in the Senate is
UNLIMITED!
• Senators can talk for as long
as they possibly can - this is
called a filibuster
What is the record?
24 hours and 18
minutes
Some interesting tidbits of info
about debating and voting in
the Senate
• Senators can add different
laws to the bills being
discussed.
• These additions are often
called riders
• Such bills are referred to
as CHRISTMAS TREE
BILLS
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
7) If the bill passed by the Senate is DIFFERENT than
the bill passed by the House (it usually is), the bill goes to a
Conference Committee
• The Conference Committee is made up of leaders of the
House and Senate Standing Committees that
investigated the bill
• They will meet and try to iron out the differences and
pass the bill through both houses again
LOBBYISTS
• Representatives of special
interests groups who meet
with members of both
houses to try to persuade
them to vote for specific
programs
• Some are full time, some
are hired out
• Registered Federal
Lobbyist Database
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
8) After the Conference Committee,
the bill is quickly passed through both
houses of Congress…..
8) and the ENROLLED bill is signed
by both presiding officers and sent to
the White House
Follow the Soccer Bill
2) House
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
3) House Floor
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
9) Presidential Action –
four options
The
President can
sign the bill the bill
becomes law
The President can choose to not
sign the bill within 10 days
the bill becomes
a law (without
the support of
the President)
The President
can veto the
bill
the bill goes
back to
Congress
The President can make a
pocket veto
if the President
does not sign the
bill, and Congress
adjourns within
10 days, the bill
DIES!!
Follow2)the
Schwieters
Bill
House
3) House Floor
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
10) If the President VETOES the
bill, THE BILL IS NOT DEAD
it can still become a law IF both houses
override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote
2/3
2/3
Where can
the
Soccer
bill
die?
2) House
3) House Floor
Committee
1) Intro in the House
Action
4) Intro
in the
Senate
5) Senate
Committee
Action
8) Both
houses, sent
to President
Action
7) Conference
Committee
6) Senate Floor
Action
9)
Presidential
Action
10)
Congressional
override
Some lawmaking statistics
• In the 106th Congress (1999-2000), 5,815
bills were introduced in the House, 3,343
in the Senate
• 580 bills were enacted or passed both
houses during the 106th Congress
• President Clinton vetoed 12 pieces of
legislation (11 regular, 1 pocket)
• Congress was able to override 0 of
President Clinton’s vetoes