how congress works. a bill v. a law bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
How Congress Works
![Page 2: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
A Bill v. A Law
Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted
![Page 3: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
A Bill v. A Law
Law - a bill or act passed by a legislative body
![Page 4: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Types of Bills
• public bill – proposed legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern and application
• private bill – a proposed legislative bill that deals with specific private, personal, or local matters rather than general affairs
• appropriation bill – legislative motion authorizing the government to spend money
![Page 5: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Types of Resolutions
• simple resolution – measure dealing with “house-keeping” or procedural matters that only affect one house
• joint resolution – measure when approved by both houses and the president carries the force of law
• concurrent resolution – legislative motion that must be approved by both houses, but does not have the force of law
resolution - a measure expressing opinions on policies or issues
![Page 6: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Legislator Representative
Committee Member
Partisan
Politician
![Page 7: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
How should I vote?
My constituents first or my
country???
Floor vote on
the Energy Bill!
A Congressman’s Balancing Act
![Page 8: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Navigating the Legislative Obstacle Course
![Page 9: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Step 1: An Idea for a Bill
Sources:
![Page 10: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Step 2: Writing & Introduction of Bill
Senate:• Bill formerly
read aloud on floor
• Bill then given to clerk
• Referred to committee by Steering Committee
House:• Bill dropped in
hopper• Referred to
committee by the Speaker
Sen. Smith introduces bill on the Senate floor
~ Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
![Page 11: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Step 3: Committee Action• On average, 4,000 to 5,000 bills are
submitted to Congress each year• Every bill is assigned a number and is sent to the
appropriate standing committee• New bills typically go directly to a subcommittee,
which can hold hearings on the bill• Experts testify, other evidence is considered• Bills are “marked-up” (revised and rewritten)• Subcommittees send bills to full committee for
final revisions and a recommendation
![Page 12: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Step 3: Committee Action II• Bills receiving a favorable committee report are
reported out for consideration by the whole House or Senate.– Most bills die in committee (pigeonholed)– If a majority of the House wishes to consider a bill,
they can force it out of committee with a discharge petition (requires a majority vote of all House members
• committee members serve as “floor managers” of the bill
![Page 13: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Step 4: Floor Action - Senate• Party leaders schedule
bills for floor debate on the calendar
• Unlimited debate• Filibuster - member(s)
keep talking to block debate on a bill
• Cloture vote by 3/5 of Senators (60) can end filibuster
• Floor vote: Roll Call, Standing, Voice Senator Strum Thurman still holds the record for the longest
filibuster - 24 hrs 18 min. on the 1957 Civil Rights Act
![Page 14: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Step 4: Floor Action - House
• Rules Committee schedules bills on calendar & decides whether amendments may be added
• Limited debate• Floor vote:
Recorded, Standing, Voice
![Page 15: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Step 5: Approved Bill Crosses Over to Other House
• Approved bill must pass each chamber by a simple majority
![Page 16: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Step 6: Conference Committee
• Members from each chamber meet to reconcile differences in the two bills
Senate-House Conference Committee works out details of the 2003 Healthy Forest Restoration
Act
![Page 17: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Step 7: Both Chambers Vote on Final Version of the Bill
![Page 18: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Step 8: President Considers Bill
President can:
1. sign the bill into law
2. veto bill
3. pocket veto
Note: Congress can override veto with 2/3 vote in each house; only 4% of vetos have been overriden
![Page 19: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Sausage Making• Presidents and Congress: Partners and
Protagonists– Presidents attempt to persuade Congress that
what they want is what Congress wants.– Presidents have many resources to influence
Congress.
![Page 20: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Sausage Making
• Party, Constituency, and Ideology– Party Influence – Party leaders cannot force
party members to vote a particular way, but many do vote along party lines.
– Polarized Politics – Differences between Democrats and Republicans in Congress have grown considerably since 1980.
![Page 21: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Sausage Making
• Party, Constituency, and Ideology– Constituency Opinion – On the controversial
issues, members are wise to vote based their constituency opinion.
– Member Ideology – The dominant determinant of member’s vote on most issues is their ideology.
![Page 22: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Sausage Making
• Lobbyists and Interest Groups– 35,000 registered lobbyists represent 12,000
organizations seeking to influence Congress.– The bigger the issue, the more lobbyists will be
working on it.– Lobbyists try to influence legislators’ votes.– Congress can ignore, reject, and regulate the
lobbyists.
![Page 23: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Sausage Making• “Pork” – aka “pork-barrel legislation” – bills to
benefit constituents in hope of gaining their votes• Logrolling – Congress members promise to
support each other’s proposals through an exchange of votes and persuasion
• Christmas-tree bill –bill with many riders (pork)– in Senate, no limit exists on amendments, so
Senators try to attach riders that will benefit their home state
![Page 24: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
TERM LIMITS DEBATE
No current limit on how many terms members of Congress can serve
1. Some argue this has weakened popular control of Congress, reps might be unresponsive to their constituents
2. Some argue most experienced reps have the expertise to bring home more benefits (pork, riders, etc.)
![Page 25: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Critical Thinking:
Fact: About 5,000 bills are introduced in Congress every year, but only about 150 are signed into law.
1.Explain why so few bills become law.
2.Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
3. Should the legislative process in Congress be reformed? If yes, what changes would you recommend? If not, why not?
![Page 26: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Title: Imagine there’s no Congress Artist: Joe Heller, Green Bay Press-GazetteDate: 6/06/07 Source: http://www.politicalcartoons.com/
![Page 27: How Congress Works. A Bill v. A Law Bill - a proposed new law introduced within a legislature that has not yet been passed, enacted or adopted](https://reader035.vdocuments.us/reader035/viewer/2022062511/5516d1c25503468e338b4578/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Artist: RJ MatsonDate: 6/14/07Source: http://themoderatevoice.com/category/politics/political-cartoons/