How A Bill Becomes A Law
Introduction
 Less than 10% pass
 Ideas for most bills
originate in executive
branch
 Bills can be introduced in
either House (except
revenue/tax bills)
 Diffusion of power
(opponents of bill
need one victory;
proponents many)
 Two-steps: 1)
authorization allows
for a bill 2)
appropriation
provides $
 Passage requires
simple majority
Committee Action
 Importance of “correct” committee getting bill
 Committee actions
 Pass. Bill is “reported out” to full House for consideration
 Kill
 Amend (“markup session”) Earmarks are placed at comm.
Level by individual members
 “Pigeonhole”: Postponed indefinitely; most frequent
fate of bills
 “Discharge petition” can be used when bill is bottled up
in committee
Committee Action (Cont’d)
 Importance of Rules Committee (House only)
 “Traffic Cop” function: sets legislative calendar
 Issues open rule that allows amendments to a bill or
closed rule that prohibits such amendments (esp. on
tax bills)
 Establishes rules on floor debate
 Committee of the Whole used by House to act more
quickly with less quorum (only 100)
Floor Action
 Senate only allows filibusters. Effective at end of
term. Threat is effective. Can be ended by 3/5 vote of
cloture
 Senate allows nongermane amendments (“riders”).
“Christmas tree” bills can result.
 Senate allows any member to place a hold on a bill or
presidential nomination.
 Not in the Constitution, but example of Senate tradition
 Use expanded in 1990’s as tactic to kill bills and nominations
Conference Committee
 Action in which members from both houses
come together to iron out differences
(temporary committee)
 Reconciles difference House-Senate versions of
a bill, then sends it back to each house for a
vote. “3rd House of Congress”
Presidential Action
 Sign the bill in full
 Veto the bill in full----> can be overidden by 2/3
vote in both houses
 Ignore the bill
 After 10 days bill automatically becomes law
 If however within 10 days, Congress adjourns (not
recesses), bill is pocket-vetoed.
 Congress gave president line-item veto in mid 90’s;
however struck down in Clinton v. New York (1998) as
violation of separation of powers (most governors have
line-item veto)