Agenda- 9/15

1. Warmup: Bill Committees

2. Lecture: Ch. 12 Part II (RS)

3. “I’m Just a Bill” WS (LS)

4. Congress WS (LS)

5. HW: Final bill drafts, WS’s

Warm-up

• As a group, based on your final versions, pick the best bill in your group. This is the bill that you will be “bringing to the floor” (presenting to the class) on Tuesday.

• As a group, discuss what changes need to be made to the bill for Tuesday so that they can be made tonight, and who will be “sponsoring” (presenting) the bill. The sponsor does NOT have to be the author.

Ch. 12 Sec. 3 & 4 How a Bill Becomes a Law:

The House and Senate

• First, the pessimistic version…

I'm just a Bill

Before we start…

-A bill can originate in the House or Senate, but must pass both before going to the President-Today, for the sake of consistency, all bills will start in the House and end in the Senate

In the beginning…• House member has an

idea for a bill and writes it up

• The clerk registers the bill

• The bill is sent to the appropriate committee

• If the committee likes it, it is placed on the calendar and sent to…

The House Floor• The Committee of the

Whole-Quorum

• Debate-Debate is limited in the House because of its 435 members

• Voting-Needs a majority (218) to pass-Sent on to…

The Senate

• The Senate process is the same in terms of committees, calendars, etc.

• Difference: Debate!-Filibuster: trying to talk a bill to death

• Voting-Must pass with a majority (51) of 100 Senators

• So…

Is it done yet? NO!!!• Conference Committee

• President can do one of four things:

1. Sign the bill into law

2. Veto the bill

3. Pocket veto the bill

4. Allow the bill to become law by

letting it sit on his desk unsigned for 10 days

“I’m Just a Bill”

Watch the cartoon “I’m Just a Bill.” we will watch it twice. The first time just absorb and enjoy it. The second time, try to follow along, and fill in the handout you are given that goes along with the cartoon.

And now in preschool format...

“Chain of Events”1. Representative has an idea for a new law.2. Clerk assigns a legislative number to the bill (H.R./S.).3. Bill is assigned to a committee.4. Experts and people lobby their support for the bill.5. The House Committee places the bill on the calendar.6. The House Rules Committee grants the bill a rule.7. The bill is debated on the House floor.8. The bill is passed by a simple majority (218 of 435).9. The bill passes the House and is known as an Act.10. The Act is sent to the Senate.11. Senate sends Act to a committee.12. Senate Committee sends bill to Senate floor for debate.13. Bill is passed by a simple majority (51 of 100).14. Bill moves to the Conference Committee.15. President may veto the bill.16. Bill is signed by the President.17. Bill becomes a law!