Transcript How A Bill Becomes a Law

Good Morning!
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Please get out your Chapter 5 Outline
and something to write with.
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Just a friendly reminder…
– 2nd Nine Weeks Student Service Learning
Projects are due on Dec. 10th!
– Chapter 5 Test this Friday!!!
Let’s Review!
1.
2.
3.
Summarize the qualifications for
becoming a US House of Representatives
member.
Summarize the qualifications for
becoming a US Senate.
Summarize the three major jobs of
Congress “at work”.
Let’s Preview!
1.
What do we know about how a Bill
becomes a Law?
2.
Meet with your partner and Brainstorm
to come up with 5 words that you think
we will learn about in the process of how
a federal bill becomes a law…….
How A Bill Becomes a
Law
Today’s Goal
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Today, you will learn to describe the eight
steps in the federal law making process (“how
a bill becomes a law”). This is important
because we are impacted by federal laws each
day.
Using our 0-4 scale of understanding, how do
you feel about your current knowledge of how
a bill becomes a law?
Let’s get ready to learn!!!
Step 1
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Each “bill” starts out as an idea
These ideas can come from Congress, private citizens or
from the White House (i.e. The President)
Special Interest Groups (groups of individuals who try to
influence Congress) may also present ideas to Congress that
may become bills.
– National Rifle Association (N.R.A.)
 Federal Assault Weapons Ban (idea came from the President and
opposed by the NRA – did not pass (or become law))
 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (signed by President
Bush in 2005; supported by the NRA – is a Federal Law today.)
Step 2
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Every “bill” must start out and be
introduced by a
Congressman/ Senator –
either a Senator or a House
Member.
Every “bill” is given a title and
number when it is introduced –
H.R.1 or S.1
Step 3
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After it is introduced, each “bill” is then sent to
the committee that seems most qualified to
handle it.
– A bill about standardized testing would be sent to the
Education Committees in the House and the Senate.
Step 4
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Committees receive hundreds of “bills” and they
decide the life or death of these bills
Those that the committee feels are valuable are then
sent to a subcommittee to be researched (public
hearings may be held)
– In a public hearing about standardized testing, the
subcommittee would hear from principals, teachers, parents,
etc.
Step 5
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The subcommittee will report back to the committee
who will decide if the “bill” should:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pass without changes
Have changes and be passed along
Be replaced with a new/better bill
Die – the bill is killed and has no chance of becoming a law that
session of Congress.
Step 6
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If a “bill” is approved by the committee, then it is ready
to be heard and voted on by the full House of
Representatives or the full Senate.
When a bill reaches the floor of the House or Senate, the
members argue their pros and cons
– The Senate (only) can add riders (a completely
unrelated item to the bill)
– The Senate also allows filibusters (when a Senator
tries to “talk a bill to death”)
– A filibuster can only be stopped by a 3/5ths vote for
cloture, meaning to end the filibuster and take a
vote.
Longest Filibuster Ever…
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U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond
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The record for the longest filibuster goes to U.S.
Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who
spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the
Civil Rights Act of 1957, according to U.S. Senate
records.
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Thurmond began speaking at 8:54 p.m. on Aug.
28 and continued until 9:12 p.m. the following
evening, reciting the Declaration of
Independence, Bill of Rights, President George
Washington's farewell address and other
historical documents along the way.
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Thurmond was not the only lawmaker to
filibuster on the issue, however. According to
Senate records, teams of senators consumed 57
days filibustering between March 26 and June 19,
the day the Civil Rights Act of 1957 passed.
Step 7
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The next step is for the members of the
House of Representatives or the Senate
to vote.
There are three different ways that a
vote can be taken:
1. Voice Vote (Senate only)
2. Standing Vote (Senate only)
3. Roll-call or today’s Computerized
Vote
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A simple majority vote is all that is
needed to pass a “bill”. If either house
refuses to pass it, the bill dies.
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The “bill” must be passed in identical
formats in both houses – conference
committees may be needed
Step 8
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Presidential Action is the final step in the process.
To help us remember the possible Presidential
actions on a bill, we will use the mnemonic device
SVD(P2)
SVD(P2)
–S stands for Sign It!
bill into law!
The President can sign the
–V stands for Veto – which means to refuse to sign.
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As a limit on the President’s power to veto, Congress can
override the veto with a 2/3rds vote in each house – very
unlikely
–D stands for “Do Nothing” … The President can
avoid acting on a bill by just leaving it on his desk.
He is given 10 Days to “do nothing”… after 10 Days,
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If Congress is still in session – the Bill becomes a Law, it
automatically PASSES!
If Congress’ session ends before the 10 Days are up, the bill
dies and this is called a POCKET VETO!
How a Bill Becomes a law
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Idea
Introduced
Committee
Subcommittee
Committee
Full House or Senate Debate
Full House or Senate Vote
Presidential Action
Click here!
Video Review – how did “Bill” go
through our “steps” of the law making
process?
Let’s See in Action!
Let’s Reflect on What
We’ve Learned
How would you rate your understanding
of the process of how a bill becomes a
law?
What are you most clear about?
What questions do you still have?
Extending on What We’ve
Learned…
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Use the
flowchart/graphic
organizer to
summarize the
critical information
learned in today’s
lesson.
Due Thursday 