Name _____________________________
From an Idea to a Bill to a Law
By Phyllis Naegeli
Date ___________________
1
The Legislative Branch is responsible for making laws necessary to the well-being of our nation. All laws start as ideas and come from a variety of sources. Congressional representatives, ordinary citizens, interest groups, and the president can present their ideas to Congress for consideration. In order for an idea to begin the journey to becoming a law, a member of Congress must sponsor it. When this happens, the idea becomes a bill. With the exception of bills concerning taxes (which must start in the
House), bills can begin in either part of Congress. For this example, we will follow a bill that starts in the House of Representatives.
2
First, the bill is written, and then it is sent to the clerk of the House. The clerk assigns a special number to the bill beginning with the letters H.R. (House of Representatives).
From there, the Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee that deals with the subject of the bill. The committee studies the bill. If they do not like it, the bill is tabled.
About ninety percent of all bills never receive a vote because they are tabled. If the committee decides to proceed, they usually hold hearings to listen to experts and interested parties talk about the bill. After the hearings, the committee marks up the bill by going through it line by line and making changes. Then they review the final draft and write a report to explain the reasons the bill should become a law.
3
With the report, the bill is sent to the House Rules Committee that sets the procedure for debate and amendment, including the time allotted for these actions. These rules are not usually open to change. Occasionally, they are waived to bring a particular bill up for vote faster. However, the power for this decision lies with the Rules Committee. Once the rules are determined, the bill is scheduled to go to the floor of the House. In addition to the specific rules for each bill, the Speaker of the House decides who may speak during the debate. The Speaker also keeps strict control over the debate.
Representatives called to speak may be cut off mid-sentence when their time is up.
After all time for debate and amendment has concluded, the Speaker calls for a vote. If a bill is passed in the House, it is sent to the Senate.
4
In the Senate, the bill is sent to another committee to be studied. There, it can be changed and sent for a vote, sent to the Senate floor as it is, or tabled. When the
Senate discusses a bill, it does not have a strict set of rules to follow. Standard procedures allow debating and amending a bill to continue indefinitely. However, an agreement called "unanimous consent" can change the standard procedures followed.
Under "unanimous consent," all of the senators must agree to modify the procedures. If one individual senator disagrees, that senator has the power to stop the modification.
When this happens, a bill becomes the victim of a filibuster. In a filibuster, the senator in disagreement talks on and on about the bill to delay the final vote. In order to end this, sixty senators must call for cloture, which sets a time limit for debate. After debate, senators vote on the bill.
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If passed, the bill is sent to a conference committee.

Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
6
A conference committee is made up of senators and representatives. This committee works out any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. When the committee is satisfied, the bill is sent back to each floor for a final vote of approval.
Then, it is printed by the government printing office and sent to the clerk of the House for certification. From there, it goes to the Speaker of the House and the vice president for their signatures. Finally, it is sent to the president for review.
7
The president has ten days to review a bill. At this point, there are a number of options available to the president. The president may sign the bill into law. In the majority of cases, this is what occurs. However, the president can also veto the bill. Usually, a president meets with Congressional members about a bill before it is vetoed. This gives the Congress time to make changes to a bill the president doesn't like. If the president does veto a bill, the bill is sent back to the beginning of its process. Now, the House and
Senate can vote again. If two-thirds of the members of each chamber agree, they override the veto, and the bill becomes a law. The president can also decide to do nothing about a bill. If the president chooses this option, there are two possible outcomes. If Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law. If Congress has adjourned during the ten-day review period, the bill is vetoed by what is called a pocket veto.
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The process for an idea to become a law in our country is long and involved. Much time and effort is put into making sure laws are necessary and in agreement with our
Constitution. This ensures our laws are in keeping with the freedoms we enjoy.

Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
From an Idea to a Bill to a Law
1. Only Congressional representatives can come up with ideas for laws.
False
True
2. What must a member of Congress do for an idea to become a bill?
Give it to the vice president
Sponsor it
Have it printed by the clerk of the
House
Send it to a committee
3. Who assigns a number to a bill that begins in the House of Representatives?
The clerk of the House
The representative sponsoring it
The Speaker of the House
The president
4. What does it mean for a bill to be tabled?
It is on the calendar for a vote
It is going to the Senate
It is being sent back to committee
It will not receive a vote
5. Rules made by the House Rules
Committee can be changed by the
Speaker of the House at any time.
False
True
6. Filibusters can only happen in the
Senate.
False
True
7. Who signs a bill before it is sent to the president for review? (choose all that apply)
The clerk of the House
The Speaker of the House
The vice president
The House committee members
8. How long does the president have to review a bill?
One week
Ten days
Ten weeks
Ten hours

Name _____________________________ Date ___________________

Name _____________________________ Date ___________________

Name _____________________________
1
2
Date ___________________
3
4 5 6
7
8
9
10

Name _____________________________
Down
1. the process of the president rejecting a bill by doing nothing when Congress has adjourned during the ten-day review period (2 words)
3. the people who live in a district of a state and have one representative to the House
5. a legislative body made up of two parts
6. the party holding the lesser number of seats in the House or Senate
Date ___________________
Across
2. the lawmaking body of the United States made up of the Senate and House of
Representatives
4. presidential rejection of a bill passed by
Congress
7. the party holding the greater number of seats in the House or Senate
8. an agreement made by sixty Senators to set a time limit on debating a bill
9. the armed forces of our country the government

Name _____________________________
From an Idea to a Bill to a Law
By Phyllis Naegeli
Date ___________________
Directions: Fill in each blank with the word that best completes the reading comprehension.
Copyright © 2012 edHelper
Name _____________________________ Date ___________________
From an Idea to a Bill to a Law
1. Only Congressional representatives can come up with ideas for laws.
False
True
2. What must a member of Congress do for an idea to become a bill?
Send it to a committee
Sponsor it
Give it to the vice president
Have it printed by the clerk of the
House
3. Who assigns a number to a bill that begins in the House of Representatives?
The representative sponsoring it
The president
The Speaker of the House
The clerk of the House
4. What does it mean for a bill to be tabled?
It is going to the Senate
It is being sent back to committee
It is on the calendar for a vote
It will not receive a vote
5. Rules made by the House Rules
Committee can be changed by the
Speaker of the House at any time.
False
True
7. Who signs a bill before it is sent to the president for review? (choose all that apply)
The clerk of the House
The Speaker of the House
The vice president
The House committee members
6. Filibusters can only happen in the
Senate.
False
True
8. How long does the president have to review a bill?
Ten hours
Ten weeks
Ten days
One week

Name _____________________________ Date ___________________

Name _____________________________ Date ___________________

Name _____________________________
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 b,c
8 Ten days
False
Sponsor it
The clerk of the House
It will not receive a vote
False
True
Date ___________________
From an Idea to a Bill to a Law
By Phyllis Naegeli
3
4
5
6
8
Answers to Reading Comprehension Questions
1
2
False
Sponsor it
The clerk of the House
It will not receive a vote
False
True
Ten days