NAME:
9
PERIOD:
CR ASH C O U RSE | GOVE R NMENT & P OLITICS
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
HOUSE
CONGRESS
A _____________________
(proposed law) is introduced
in the Senate.
A _____________________
(proposed law) is introduced
in the House.
Bill is assigned to a
___________________________
for study.
Subcommittee
holds hearings and
makes changes.
___________________________
may delay action, change,
or vote on the bill.
If bill passes committee, it
goes to the _______________,
which debates, changes,
and votes on the bill.
If bill passes in the House,
it goes to the
________________________.
SENATE
House-Senate
conference
committee writes
____________________.
House-Senate
conference vote. If bill
passes, it goes to the
____________________.
PRESIDENT
President can sign bill
into law or
___________________.
Congress can
override veto by a
____/____ majority
vote of both houses.
Bill is assigned to a
___________________________
for study.
Subcommittee
holds hearings and
makes changes.
___________________________
may delay action, change,
or vote on the bill.
If bill passes committee, it
goes to the _______________,
which debates, changes,
and votes on the bill.
If bill passes in the Senate,
it goes to the
________________________.
BILL BECOMES
A LAW!
© 2016
Find more great resources at worldstudies.org
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9
CR AS H CO URSE | GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
VO CA B U L A RY
bill: a proposed law
markup: a “markup” session is when committees debate and change (amend) bills
rules committee: a House committee which determines “rules” for debate
conference committee: a joint committee when members “reconcile” different versions of a bill
pocket veto: the President can veto a bill indirectly by refusing to sign it
veto gates: structural hurdles put in place to make it difficult to pass bills into laws
compromise bill: a bill coming out of a conference committee
1. Recount several ways a bill can die.
2. Under which circumstance is Congress most able to pass bills?
F U N FA C T
Of the 8,565 bills introduced in the 113th Congress, 613 made it
out of committee, and only 296 ever become law.
3. Recount several ways a bill can die.Why were all these “structural hurdles” put in place to
prevent easy legislation? Is it justified?
Without looking on the other side, draw and label your own “how a bill becomes a law” diagram.
2
NAME:
9
ANSWER KEY
PERIOD:
CR ASH C O U RSE | GOVE R NMENT & P OLITICS
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
HOUSE
CONGRESS
bill
A _____________________
(proposed law) is introduced
in the Senate.
bill
A _____________________
(proposed law) is introduced
in the House.
Bill is assigned to a
committee
___________________________
for study.
Subcommittee
holds hearings and
makes changes.
full committee
___________________________
may delay action, change,
or vote on the bill.
If bill passes committee, it
full house (floor)
goes to the _______________,
which debates, changes,
and votes on the bill.
If bill passes in the House,
it goes to the
Senate
________________________.
SENATE
House-Senate
conference
committee writes
____________________.
compromise bill
House-Senate
conference vote. If bill
passes, it goes to the
president
____________________.
PRESIDENT
President can sign bill
into law or
veto (or pocket veto)
___________________.
Congress can
override veto by a
____/____
2 / 3 majority
vote of both houses.
Bill is assigned to a
committee
___________________________
for study.
Subcommittee
holds hearings and
makes changes.
full committee
___________________________
may delay action, change,
or vote on the bill.
If bill passes committee, it
full senate (floor)
goes to the _______________,
which debates, changes,
and votes on the bill.
If bill passes in the Senate,
it goes to the
House
________________________.
BILL BECOMES
A LAW!
© 2016
Find more great resources at worldstudies.org
1
9
CR AS H CO URSE | GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
VO CA B U L A RY
bill: a proposed law
markup: a “markup” session is when committees debate and change (amend) bills
rules committee: a House committee which determines “rules” for debate
conference committee: a joint committee when members “reconcile” different versions of a bill
pocket veto: the President can veto a bill indirectly by refusing to sign it
veto gates: structural hurdles put in place to make it difficult to pass bills into laws
compromise bill: a bill coming out of a conference committee
1. Recount several ways a bill can die.
Speaker (H) or Majority Leader (S) never refer to committee; committee can refuse
to hold vote on the bill (or it fails to get a majority); leadership (S) can refuse to
schedule a vote, a senator can filibuster; the Rules Committee in the House can
refuse to set a "rule" for debate; House can vote to send a bill back to committee;
needs a mjority from both houses of Congress, and president can veto :)
2. Under which circumstance is Congress most able to pass bills?
"When there is broad agreement or the issue is uncontroversial like naming a post office or thanking
specific groups of veterans for their service."
3. What is the easiest way for Congress to kill a bill?
"To simply not vote on them or even schedule votes for them. This way they don't
have to go on record as being for or against a bill, just whether they support having
a vote."
F U N FA C T
Of the 8,565 bills introduced in the 113th Congress, 613 made it
out of committee, and only 296 ever become law.
4. Recount several ways a bill can die.Why were all these “structural hurdles” put in place to
prevent easy legislation? Is it justified?
"The founders set up these structural hurdles of the bicameral Congress and the presidential role in
legislation to reduce the likelihood that authoritarian laws would pass. Congress added procedural
hurdles like committees and filibusters for the same reason."
Without looking on the other side, draw and label your own “how a bill becomes a law” diagram.
2