LOOKING AT LAWMAKING
Click the pic for the Federalism
Facts of Congress!
Levels of
Government
In our federal
system of
government,
powers are
shared between
three levels:
Government
Federal
State
Local
Branches of Government
Each level of
government has three
branches – legislative,
executive, and
judicial.
These branches all
have different powers,
responsibilities, and
requirements.
Executive
Branch
Judicial
Branch
Legislative
Branch
Federal
State
Local
What does the legislative
branch do?
Who serves in the
Legislative Branch?
Congressmen/Congresswomen
U.S. Representative
U.S. Senator
Florida Legislator
Florida Representative
Florida Senator
Commissioner
Councilman/Councilwoman
Legislative Branch
Makes the law
What does the executive
branch do?
Who serves in the
executive
branch?
President
Vice President
Cabinet Members
Governor
Lieutenant Governor
Cabinet Members
Mayor
Executive Branch
Enforces the law
What does the judicial
branch do?
Who serves in the
judicial branch?
Justices of the United
States Supreme Court
Appellate Judges
Trial Judges
Justices of the Florida
Supreme Court
Appellate Judges
Trial Judges
On your worksheet, you will need to correctly identify
each branch of government, the role of the branch,
and the titles/offices of government officials for each
level of government. For the judicial branch, you will
need to identify the levels/types of courts.
Who Does What?
Who Does What?
Branch of
Government
Legislative
Executive
Judicial
Role of this branch
Make law
Enforce law
Interpret and apply
the law
Federal
• Congressman/
Congresswoman
• U.S. Senator
• President
• Vice President
• U.S. Supreme
Court
• U.S. Circuit Courts
of Appeal
• U.S. District Courts
• Florida Senator
• Florida
Representative
• Governor
• Lieutenant
Governor
• Florida Supreme
Court
• District Courts of
Appeal
• Councilman/
Councilwoman
• County/City
Commissioner
• Mayor
• Circuit Court
• County Court
•
State
Local
U.S.
Representative
LOOKING AT LAWMAKING
How are laws made in the
legislature?
The Hierarchy of Law
United States
Constitution
If there is a
conflict between a
lower law and a
higher one, the
higher one
“prevails”.
Acts of Congress
Florida
Constitution
State Statutes
(laws)
City and County
Ordinances
The U.S.
Constitution is
the “Supreme
Law of the
Land.”
Where does it come
from?
• Where does Congress get
the power to make
acts/laws?
• Where does the Florida
legislature get the power to
make laws (statutes) for the
state?
• Where does the local
government get the power
to make ordinances?
Click the pic to see a Fact of
Congress on how a bill becomes
a law!
The cost of living is so
high! Because of the
downturn in the
economy, we only make
minimum wage and can
barely make ends meet.
We need to increase the
minimum wage!
A bill is an idea that comes from a
citizen, group, Congressperson, or
the Executive Branch.
The bill is sponsored by an interested
member of the House or Senate where it
receives support from other
Congressmen/Congresswomen.
This bill is going to start in the U.S. House of
Representatives.
A bill is officially introduced when it is
placed in the hopper on the side of
the Clerk’s desk.
The title of the bill is entered in the
House journal and printed in the
Congressional record.
The Clerk then assigns the bill a
number and it is assigned to the
appropriate committee.
Here, experts will testify on the bill and then the
committee members will make changes or updates
based on this testimony.
Committee members then vote on whether or not
the bill should go to the House floor for a vote.
Only 1 out of every 4 bills make it
out of committee!
Today, that is going to be your job!
Some of you are going to be the experts providing testimony on both sides of
the bill proposing an increase in the federal minimum wage. Some will testify
before the House and some before the Senate.
Others will be the committee members for the House and Senate. You will be
responsible for asking the experts questions to get enough information so you
can make a decision on this bill.
If the bill passes committee, it is reported to the
House floor for debate. Here, amendments are
proposed during the bill reading.
When debate is over, the bill is voted on
using one of three methods:
1. Voice vote
2. Division
a. Members stand to be counted
3. Recorded
a. This is the most common way to
vote. Members select “yea”, “nay”,
or “present” or complete a paper
ballot.
Why would a
member vote
“present”?
If the bill passes the House with a simple majority
(218 of 435), it is sent to the Senate. It is reviewed
and discussed in a Senate committee before it is
voted on.
Senate Committee members and
experts for the Senate, it is your
turn to testify!
If the bill passes committee, it is sent to the Senate
for debate and to make amendments to the bill.
Unlike the House, Senate members typically vote
by voice.
A simple majority (51 out of 100) passes the bill.
NAY!
YEA!
YEA!
NAY!
YEA!
YEA!
NAY!
If the bill passes the Senate, it is sent back to the House with
a note about any changes (amendments).
If there are amendments:
• It may be sent to committee for
research
• It will be voted on again
This process continues
until both houses of
Congress agree on an
IDENTICAL bill.
The identical bill is then sent to
the President.
LAW
Once it is here, the President
has three options:
Sign the bill into law
Veto the bill
?
M. President
Not sign the bill
If Congress is in session and it
is not signed with 10 days, the
bill becomes law.
If Congress recesses before
the 10 days have passed, the
bill dies.
If Congress disagrees with the
President’s veto, they can
override the veto with two-thirds
vote in both Chambers of
Congress.
2/3
HOW DOES A BILL
BECOME A LAW IN
FLORIDA?
Let’s look at the
process…
IDEA
DECISION
BILL DRAFTED
1ST READING
From citizen, group or
legislator
The legislator decides if
the idea should be a bill.
Bill written by staff and
assigned a number..
Published in Chamber
Journal.
3RD READING
2ND READING
Same process as original
Chamber.
Final reading of the bill. The
bill is voted on and may die
if it does not receive a
favorable vote.
Bill is read on floor of
Chamber and may be
placed on Special Order
Calendar by vote.
COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENT
/MEETING
Return to Original
Chamber
GOVERNOR
CONSIDERATION
GOVERNOR FINAL
ACTIONS
Final versions of the bill
must be identical in both
Chambers.
Governor can sign the bill into
law, allow the bill to become
law without signing, or veto
the bill.
If the Governor vetoes the
bill, the Legislature may
override his/her veto by a
2/3 vote.
.
Consideration by
Opposite Chamber
Bill is reviewed, voted on, and
can be placed on calendar or
allowed to die in committee.
LAW
If the Governor does not
veto the bill, the bill
becomes law.
In summary, this is how a
law is made:
IDEA
From citizen, group or
legislator
.
GOVERNOR
CONSIDERATION
Governor can sign the bill into
law, allow the bill to become
law without signing, or veto
the bill.
BILL DRAFTED
Bill written by staff and
assigned a number.
COMMITTEE
ASSIGNMENT
/MEETING
Consideration by
Opposite Chamber
Bill is reviewed, voted on, and
can be placed on calendar or
allowed to die in committee.
Same process as original
Chamber.
GOVERNOR FINAL
ACTIONS
If the Governor vetoes the
bill, the Legislature may
override his/her veto by a
2/3 vote.
LAW
If the Governor does not
veto the bill, the bill
becomes law.
Check For Understanding
What are some important words to look for in this
question?
Which answers can we eliminate?