The document outlines the steps involved in how a bill becomes law in the U.S. Congress, detailing the process from introduction by a member of Congress to the President's decision to sign or veto the bill. It also includes interactive elements for study and questions related to the legislative process, emphasizing key terms and procedures. The conclusion reminds readers to recall the steps and prepare for assessment through multiple choice and true/false questions.

1. US Congress
HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW

2. Step 7
 Bill Becomes a law

3. Introduction
 Welcome
 Process
 Questions
 Answers
 Conclusion

4. Instructions
 How to use your interactive study guide for Intro to
US Government: How a Bill Becomes Law
 Play Me
Please also note that I have also included a slide that will ask you the questions again and then allow you to navigate directly to that
appropriate slide with the answer. This will test your ability to recall information throughout the presentation. Click on the the red
question box at the end of each sentence on slide 10 to navigate you to the question. There is also a question box with hyperlink on
the bottom left corner of each of these slides that will navigate you back to slide 10.

6. Question 1
Bill is introduced by a member of:
A. Senate
B. House
C. Any member of Congress

7. Questions

8. Step 1
 Bill is introduced
 Any member of Congress may introduce a bill

9. Step 2
 After the bill is introduced it is:
 Given a number by the clerk and placed in the
Hopper.

10. Step 3
 The Bill is assigned to a committee

11. Step 3 cont..
 A committee may hold a "mark-up" session during
which time it will make revisions and additions. If
substantial amendments are made, the committee
can order the introduction of a "clean bill" which will
include the proposed amendments. This new bill will
have a new number and will be sent to the floor while
the old bill is discarded. The chamber must
approve, change or reject all committee amendments
before conducting a final passage vote.

12. Step 3 cont..
 After the bill is reported, the committee staff
prepares a written report explaining why they favor
the bill and why they wish to see their
amendments, if any, adopted. Committee members
who oppose a bill sometimes write a dissenting
opinion in the report. The report is sent back to the
whole chamber and is placed on the calendar.

13. Step 3 cont…
 In the House, most bills go to the Rules committee
before reaching the floor. The committee adopts
rules that will govern the procedures under which
the bill will be considered by the House. A "closed
rule" sets strict time limits on debate and forbids the
introduction of amendments. These rules can have a
major impact on whether the bill passes. The rules
committee can be bypassed in three ways: 1)
members can move rules to be suspended (requires
2/3 vote)2) a discharge petition can be filed 3) the
House can use a Calendar Wednesday procedure.

14. Step 4
 Bill is sent to the floor where it is placed on the
House calendar or Legislative Calendar in the Senate
 Debate
 Vote

15. Step 5
 Bill is sent to conference committee

16. Step 6
 Bill is sent to President where he can:
 Sign and it becomes a law
 Veto
 Ignore signing the bill using his power of a pocket
veto

17. Flow Chart
Introduced Hopper/# Committee
Conference
Floor Action President
Committee
Law

18. Question 2
Both legislative branches must agree on a bill’s
contents before it becomes law.
True
False

19. Question 3
What happens to the bill once both houses are in
agreement of the bill’s content?
A. Goes to the president.
B. It is made a law
C. It’s returned to committee
D. It’s voted on by both houses

20. Question 4
What power does the president have in regards to
bills?
A. Sign the bill
B. Veto
C. Do nothing
D. All the above

21. Question 5
A pocket veto prevents the President from blocking
legislation from being passed.
 True
 False

22. Question 6
After a bill is introduced it is then given a number then
given to the House Clerk where it will be given to the
appropriate committee.
 True
 False

23. Recall of Answers
1. Who can initially introduce a bill to Congress
2. Both legislative branches must agree on a bill’s contents
before it becomes law
3. What happens to the bill once both houses are in
agreement of the bill’s content
4. What power does the president have in regards to bills
5. A pocket veto prevents the President from blocking
legislation from being passed
6. After a bill is introduced it is then given a number then
given to the House Clerk where it will be given to the
appropriate committee

24. Conclusion
 Remember the actual steps and process from the
beginning until the end of the bills passage (see
handout from class and lecture material)
 Recall key terms
 Exam will be multiple choice and true false only

25. Answers
 Question 1: C
 Question 2: True
 Question 3: A
 Question 4: D
 Question 5: False
 Question 6: True