1. How It Starts
-starts as an idea
-Who has the idea?

2. Split Process
-a new bill must pass both parts of
Congress
-the bill must also pass both parts in
exactly the same form

3. Becoming a Bill
-must be sponsored by a member of
Congress
-put in a draft form
-introduced into Congress

4. Committee
-bill is assigned to a committee
-committee has 3 options
-send bill to next stage
-kill the bill
-pigeonhole the bill-- Action that
places a bill to the side without a
vote

5. Sub-Committee
-studies the bill in-depth
-public hearings-- Meetings held by
legislative committees in order to
allow public comments and
information to be given to
legislative committees
-same 3 options

6. Committee
-back to full committee
-committee votes to send bill to full
House or Senate

7. House or Senate
-Bill is read to the Full House or
Senate for the first time
-Party Leaders try to schedule
debate time for bill
-Members research the merits of
the bill
-Riders may be attached
-additional measures which are not
related to the original bill

8. Debate
-members get to voice their opinions
on the bill
-time is often limited in debates in
the House
-Senate has no time limits on their
debate-
-filibuster
-cloture vote
-each party is given equal
opportunity to speak about the bill

9. Debate
-members get to voice their opinions
on the bill
-time is often limited in debates in
the House
-Senate has no time limits on their
debate-
-filibuster
-cloture vote
-each party is given equal
opportunity to speak about the bill

10. Voting
-after debate a vote is scheduled
-3 types of votes
voice
standing
roll-call—
Type of Congressional vote where
each legislator is called out and a
vote recorded—mostly done
electronically today

11. Same Bill Must Pass
-both parts of Congress must pass
the same bill
-if bill is not the same a conference
committee will meet
-Special committee made up of
legislators from the House and
Senate who try to work out
differences in bill that passed
both houses in different forms
-bill must be voted on in new form

12. Sent to President
-4 options
-sign it into law
-pocket veto-- Process where the
President does not sign a bill and
Congress has adjourned and after
ten days the bills dies rather than
becoming law
-veto the bill
-not sign the bill
becomes law in 10 days

13. Over-Riding a Veto
-if vetoed Congress can override the
veto
-2/3 vote required in each house to
override
-very difficult to achieve