This document provides information about the legislative process in the United States. It outlines the key steps bills take from introduction through becoming law or being vetoed, including committee hearings and markups, floor debates and votes in both the House and Senate, conferences to reconcile different versions of bills, and potential presidential action. It also gives tips on how citizens can contact their representatives to voice support for or opposition to proposed legislation through phone calls, letters, and addressing guidelines. Additionally, it discusses the importance of high quality early childhood programs and care.

1. LEADERSHIP : PART
THREE
EDU 262

2. Legislation
 Whole Group Discussion
 Legislation Information
 The Legislative Process
 Tips on how to call/write your representative
 Sample Letter

3. Legislative Process
 Introducing the Bill and Referral to a
Committee
 Committee Action: Hearings and Mark Up
 Committee Report
 Floor Debate and Votes
 Referral to the Other Chamber
 Conference on a bill
 Action by the President
 Overriding a Veto

4. Legislative Process
 Introducing the Bill and Referral to a Committee
 Any member (sponsor) of Congress can introduce
legislation
 Any member of the same body (House or Senate) can
add his or her name after the day of introduction as a
cosponsor.
 The bill is given a number: H.R. -House bill S -Senate
bill.
 The bill is then referred to a committee with
jurisdiction over issue of the legislation.
 Sometimes, a bill will be referred to multiple
committee or to a subcommittee first.

5. Legislative Process
 Committee Action: Hearings and Mark Up
 The chairman of the Committee determines whether there
will be a hearing and “mark up” on the bill
 Subcommittee holds hearing. Sometimes a bill is marked
up both in subcommittee and then in full committee, but it
can have action taken only at the full committee level.
 A mark up is when members of the Committee offer
amendments to make changes to the bill
 After amendments are adopted or rejected, the chairman
moves to vote the bill favorably out of Committee
 The bill will go to the entire body if the Committee favorably
reports out the bill

6. Legislative Process
 Committee Report
 Committee Chairman's staff writes a report of the bill
describing the intent of legislation
 the legislative history such as hearings in the Committee
 the impact on existing laws and programs
 and the position of the majority of members of the
committee
 The members of the minority may file dissenting views
as a group or individually
 Usually, a copy of the bill as marked up is printed in
the Report

7. Legislative Process
 Floor Debate and Votes
 The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader of the
Senate determine if/when a bill comes before the full body
for debate and amendment, and final passage.
 There are very different rules of procedure governing
debate in the House and Senate.
 The House, a Representative may offer an amendment to the
bill only if he has obtained "permission" from the Rules
Committee
 The Senate, a Senator can offer an amendment without
warning so long as the amendment is germane to the
underlying bill
 A majority vote is required for an amendment and for final
passage

8. Legislative Process
 Referral to the Other Chamber
 When the House or the Senate passes a bill it is
referred to the other chamber where it usually follows
the same route through committee and floor action
 This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject
it, ignore it, or amend it before passing it

9. Legislative Process
 Conference on a bill
 If only minor changes are made to a bill by the other chamber,
usually the legislation goes back to the originating chamber for a
concurring vote
 If the House and Senate versions of the bill contain significant
and/or numerous differences, a conference committee is officially
appointed to reconcile the differences between the two different
versions into a single bill
 If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation
dies
 If agreement is reached, a conference report is prepared
describing the committee members' recommendations for
changes
 Both the House and the Senate must approve report or the bill
dies

10. Legislative Process
 Action by the President
 After the report has been approved by both the House and
Senate, the final bill is sent to the President
 If the President approves of the legislation, he signs it and
it becomes law
 If the President does not take action for ten days while
Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law
 If the President opposes the bill he can veto it; or, if he
takes no action after the Congress has adjourned its
second session, it is a "pocket veto" and the legislation
dies

11. Legislative Process
 Overriding a Veto
 If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may decide to
attempt to "override the veto"
 This requires a two-thirds roll call vote of the members
who are present in sufficient numbers for a quorum

12. Legislation
 Contacting your representatives by phone
 You can call (202) 224-3121 to obtain your representative’s
name
 Telephone calls taken by staff not actual representative so
ask for his/her aide who handles the issue you wish to
comment on
 Identify yourself and tell him/her you would like to leave a
brief message
 “Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I
support/oppose (S. _____ /H.R. ____)
 You will want to state reasons why you support/oppose
 You can ask for written response to your call

13. Legislation
 Contacting your representatives by mail
 Your purpose for writing should be stated in first
paragraph
 Include S. ____ or H.R. ____
 Be courteous, to the point, and include key
information, using examples to support you position
 Address only one issue per letter
 Keep letter to one page

14. Legislation
 Addressing Correspondence
 To a Senator
The Honorable (full name)
__ (Rm. #) __(name of) Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510

15. Legislation
 Addressing Correspondence
 To a Representative
The Honorable (full name)
__ (Rm. #) __(name of) House Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20515

16. Legislation
 Small Group Discussion
 Portfolio Assignment, Leadership, Level II, Letter B
 Identify legislation being proposed in your town, county,
or state that will impact young children and families.
Write a letter to the editor of you local newspaper
explaining your support for or opposition to the
legislation.
 Change letter to representative instead of editor
 Whole Group Discussion
 Discuss findings

17. Importance of Quality Childcare
 Whole Group Discussion
 What is the importance of high quality early
childhood?

18. Importance of Quality Care
 What is the importance of high quality early
childhood?
 Millions of children spend a part of the day in child care
while their parents work
 These are places where children can learn and grow
 Children’s language and cognitive skills thrive in quality
child care programs
 child care is often an extension of the home. Child care
provides many opportunities to help parents succeed as
"first teachers."

19. Importance of Quality Care
 Small Group Discussion
 Portfolio Assignment, Leadership, Level III, Letter A
 Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper
describing the importance of high quality early childhood
programs for young children.
 Whole Group Discussion
 Discuss findings

20. Concerns or Questions

21. Homework
 Read Chapters 9 and 13
 Bring book to class next week
 Week 3 Discussion Question