I'm Just a Bill

How A Bill
Becomes
A
Law
Overview

1.
2.
a) b)
Anyone may introduce a Bill
1)
2)
1)
In the House of
Representatives:
Hand Bill to a clerk
Drop Bill into a
“hopper” (tradition from
UK)
In the Senate:
Being recognized by the presiding officer and announcing the bill’s introduction
Bill is numbered and sent to a printer

 Types of Bills: a)
Public- public affairs b) a) b)
Privatea person pressing a financial claim against the government
Seeking special permission for something (citizenship)
(once numerous)
 Types of Resolutions a) a)
Simple (passed by either house)
Example - establishing the rules under which each body will operate
 Types of Resolutions (Cont) b)
Concurrent Resolutiona)
Settles housekeeping and procedural matters that impact both houses

Both Simple and Concurrent are not signed by the president and do not have the force of law c)
Joint Resolutionsa) a) b)
Requires approval of both houses + the signature of the
President
Essentially, same as law
Often used to propose constitutional amendments…

1.
a)
Bill referred to a committee by either;
Speaker of the House b)
Presiding officer of the
Senate


Rules govern which committee will get a bill
Rules vary per house

2. Referred to a Subcommittee

Sub Committees are the research arm of the larger,
Full/Standing Committee

Multiple Referral vs.
Sequential Referral
What happens in a subcommittee?
a)
Witnesses appear b) c) d)
Evidence is taken
Questions are asked
Hearings used to a) b)
Inform members
Permit interest groups c)
Build public support
Sample Testimony
3.
After hearing, subcommittee “marks up” bill

4. Back to the Standing
Committee for a possible vote

If majority of the committee votes to report a bill out of committee, it goes on

Accompanied by a report that explains:

Why the committee favored it

Why they wish to see its amendments, if any, adopted b) If the committee does not report favorably on the bill, the bill dies
Note about Committees:

Committees may hold bills hostage!




Discharge Petition
House – 218 signatures
Senate – motion
Last 100 years – attempted 800+ times, successful 24 times
Are we done yet? I’m bored

5.

Though it goes on the calendar,

Not considered in order or

Necessarily at all
6.


1.
2.
3.
Adopt a rule to govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered a) b) a) a)
Closed Rule: sets strict time limits on debate forbids the introduction of amendments from the floor (except if offered by sponsoring committee)
Open Rule:
Permits amendments
Restrictive Rule:
Permits some amendments but not others


Exceptions to the Rules:

In House:
1.
Member can move that the rules be suspended
2.
3.

Requires 2/3 vote
A discharge position can be filed
House can use the
“Calendar Wednesday
Procedure”



Rules are in place to prevent “riders”
Provision added to legislation that is not germane to the bill’s purpose
“Christmas Tree” Bill
Purpose of Riders?

THE HOUSE
1.
2.
3.


 a) b)
Discussed by “Committee of the Whole”
Whoever is present at the time
Quorum for C.W.: 100 ppl (usually
218)
Speaker chooses presider

Committee debates, amends, decides final shape
During this time, no riders allowed- unless related to bill’s purpose
Time for debate divided evenly
5 minutes per person
“Quorum Call”- time staller
THE SENATE





No rule limiting debate
Senators can speak as long as they want


Remarks need not be relevant
Anyone can offer an Amendment at anytime

Amendments need not be germane

Often had many riders
No Committee of the Whole
If house has passed a bill,
Committee hearing can be waived in Senate
Senate Filibuster- time staller




Filibuster The use of obstructionist tactics, especially prolonged speechmaking, for the purpose of delaying legislative action.

Strom Thurmond
 set a record in 1957 by filibustering the Civil Rights Act of 1957 for 24 hours and
18 minutes, although the bill ultimately passed. Thurmond broke the previous record of 22 hours and 26 minutes set by Wayne Morse (I-OR) in 1953 protesting the Tidelands Oil legislation.

Visited a steam room before his filibuster in order to dehydrate himself so he could drink without urinating. An aide stood by in the cloakroom with a pail in case of emergency.“
Cloture Rule- parliamentary procedure by which debate is ended and an immediate vote is taken on the matter under discussion.


Requires 16 Senators for petition
Motion is voted on 2 days after petition is introduced vs.


To pass, 3/5 of Senate membership is needed- 60 Senators
If passed, each Senator is limited to 1 hour of debate

After that, total debate can only = 100 hours (including role call)


Cloture (Continued)

Double Tracking-

One way to keep Senate going during cloture

Disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the Senate can get other work done


1.
Voice Vote-
2.
3.
4.
a)
Yea vs Nay
Division (Standing Vote)a)
Stand and be counted
(in both, members names are not recorded) a) b) a) b)
Teller Votethe members pass between two tellers..yeas first, nays second
Usually recorded
Role Call Vote-
Yea or Nay to people’s names
Can be done at the request of 1/5 of reps present

1.
No teller vote and not electronic counters





If a bill passes the house differently in the House than in the Senate, differences must be reconciled.
If changes minor, last house may refer back to first house to accept alterations
If differences are major, bill goes to conference

Each house votes to make committee

Members picked by chairperson of the House +
Senate Committees that have been handling the bill

3-15 members per house (depending on bill)

Decision must be approved by majority of all members
Bill goes back to each house to accept or reject





If bill is accepted by both houses, goes to President
President’s options:

Sign or veto
If President signs, Bill becomes a law!
If President vetos, bill goes back to Congress


Congress can override with a 2/3 vote of members present in each house (if quorum exists)
Vote must be a roll call

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1.
2.
Who can propose a bill?
How is a resolution different from a bill?
Simple
Concurrent
In which house do “bills for raising revenue” get proposed? Why?
Why is it cool to be on the ways and means committee?
What does an appropriation mean?
Os multiple referral of a bill better than the traditional way of referring a bill?
Is the discharge petition useful in speeding things up?
Why is adopting a closed rule most common in the House, not in the Senate?
How is the “Committee of the Whole” different from a quorum?
What are some differences that exist as far as Floor Debate in each house?
What is a filibuster ?
Does cloture help move things along?
What are the advantages/disadvantages of a teller vote?
Does Congress take too long to accomplish its goal?
Are there too many members concerned with self interest?