Transcript How a Bill Becomes a Law - Citizens Equal Rights Alliance

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Anyone can suggest an idea for a law.
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Only Members of Congress can introduce a
proposed law to the House or Senate.
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Member of House or Senate drafts bill.
Member submits bill to House or Senate.
Bill assigned a number that begins with:
• H.R. for House of Representatives
• S. for Senate
Bill then sent to appropriate committee.
Maybe sent to multiple committees or sections
divided among committees.
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Permanent committees in both chambers that
study bills related to a general topic such as
education, agriculture, energy, homeland
security, armed forces, transportation etc.
 Committee chair assigns the bill to the
appropriate subcommittee.
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Senate: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Daniel Akaka, Chair (D-HI)
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House: Indian & Alaska Native Affairs Committee
House National Resources Committee subcommittee
Don Young, Chair (R-AK)
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Subcommittee studies bills related to sub-set topics of
the standing committee.
Members of the subcommittee are members of the
standing committee.
Most of the discussion in Congress takes place here.
Chair of the subcommittee consults with other
committee members, decides whether to schedule a
bill for discussion.
The subcommittee may also decide to stop action on a
bill that they think is not necessary or wise. The bill
then dies.
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Subcommittee first holds hearings on bill, for
supporters, opponents, experts to express views.
Bill amendments are suggested and voted on.
Subcommittee may revise or author new bill.
Subcommittee votes to take the bill to the full
committee.
If bill does not pass, it dies.
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Committee discusses the bill.
 Committee members offer and vote on
amendments.
 Committee votes to send the bill to the full
House or Senate.
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If passed, committee writes report explaining:
• Key points of the bill
• Changes made
• How bill compares to current laws
• Why bill is recommended for approval
 Bill and the report are then sent to the full
House or Senate.
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Bill placed on calendar of House or Senate until
scheduled for discussion.
 House and Senate have different rules for
debating bills.
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House is chaired by the Speaker.
 Before debate, time limit set for Members to
speak (usually 1 – 5 minutes).
 Members alternate back and forth between
supporters and opponents of bill.
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Debate can be ended by simple majority vote.
 After debate, amendments suggested and
debated. Same rules apply.
 Finally, bill is put to a vote.
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Senate chaired by the Vice President; more
often is the President Pro Tempore.
 No time limit to debate in Senate. Members
speak as long as they choose.
 Amendments can be offered during debate.
 When debate ends, the bill is put to a vote.
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House and Senate must pass similar versions.
 When bill passes one chamber, it is sent to the
other chamber for debate, amendment and vote.
 After both chambers pass similar bills, the two
bills are sent to a conference committee.
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Conference committee are members of both chambers.
Committee addresses differences between versions.
They re-write bill in a form that appeals to both
chambers and vote on it.
If revised bill passes Committee, committee submits a
report that contains:
• The revised bill
• Explanation how differences where addressed
between the two bills
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Conference committee report with revised bill is
sent back to both chambers for a vote.
 If bill fails to pass both chambers, it dies.
 If bill passes both chambers, it goes to the
President.
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President has 4 options:
1. Sign. Becomes law when signed.
2. Law without signature. Bill held without
signing for 10 days while Congress in
session becomes law.
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3. Veto. Sent back Congress with reasons.
Override requires 2/3 affirmative vote of
both chambers.
4. Pocket veto. If Congress adjourns before 10
day period expires and President has not
signed bill, the bill dies.
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 Thanks
again for your attention
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