Unit 5 How a Bill Becomes a Law
(This unit is based on article I, Section 7.)
The major job of Congress is to pass laws. The
methods to be used are outlined briefly in the
Constitution. But because the responsibilities of
Congress have so increased, the way in which
laws are passed today is much more complex
than the Founding Fathers envisioned.
Introducing a Bill. Bills, or proposed laws,
may be introduced in either house of Congress.
Revenue bills, however, must originate in the
House.
When a Senator or Representative
introduces a bill, he places a copy of it in a
special box set aside for that purpose. No person
except a member of Congress is allowed to
introduce bills.
The Committee System. Because there are
so many bills to consider, not every member of
Congress can work on every bill. Instead, each
house of Congress is divided into committees.
Each committee specializes in a particular subject
- agriculture, for example, or foreign relations.
After a bill is introduced, it is sent to the
appropriate committee. There, the bill is studied
and discussed. Sometimes, it is simply dropped
by the committee. Often, it is amended, or
changed. Once the committee is satisfied, the bill
is released.
Ttie House Committee on Science and Astronautics
discusses a bill with an advisory panel.
Scheduling and Debate.
After the bill is
released by the committee, it is placed on the
calendar, or schedule of bills to be considered.
When the time comes, the legislators debate the
bill and then vote on it. If the bill does not receive
a majority vote, it is dropped. If it passes, it is
sent on to the other house of Congress.
The House has a Rules Committee which has
the power to select the bills it feels are most
important. These will be voted on first. This is
done since there is not enough
time in a
congressional session to vote on all the bills that
have been introduced.
Passage by the Other House. When a bill is
sent to the other house of Congress, it must go
through the same procedures as it did the first
time. It must first be introduced and then sent to
committee. Again, if the committee approves, the
bill is placed on the calendar. It is then debated
and voted on. If the bill is passed by the second
house, it is then sent to the President.
A Conference Committee. If one house of
Congress amends a bill passed by the other
house and then passes the new version, the bill is
sent to a conference committee. This committee
has an equal number of Representatives and
Senators on it. They discuss the bill and reach a
compromise. Then the comprise version of the
bill is sent to both houses to be voted on again. If
both houses pass it, it is sent to the President.
The Role of the President. The Constitution
gives the president the power to approve or veto
- turn down - all bills passed by Congress, when
the President receives a bill from Congress, he
has ten days in which to study it. If he approves
the bill, he signs it and it becomes a law. If he
does not wish to approve the bill, however, he
may veto it. Then the bill is sent, usually with the
President's objections, back to the house in which
it was first introduced.
Overriding the President's Veto. A bill which
has been vetoed may still become a law. Each
house of Congress may again vote on the bill. If
it is passed by a two-thirds majority of both
houses, the bill will become a law despite the
President's objections and without his signature.
(See chart on page 22.)
Name
Hour
Date
ACTIVITY PAGE
A. True or False
In the space at the left, write T if the statement is true or F if it is false.
1. Revenue bills must originate in the Senate.
2. Every member of Congress works on every bill that is introduced.
3. Any private citizen may introduce a bill in either house of Congress.
4. Sometimes bills never get out of committee.
5. Before a bill may be sent to the President, it must be approved by both houses of Congress.
6. The Constitution gives the President the power to approve or veto all bills passed by Congress.
B. Words to Know
In the space at the left, write the letter of the tenv that best frts the definition.
1. schedule of bills to be considered
a. bills
2. to change
b. calendar
3. proposed laws
c. veto
4. to turn down
d. amend
C. Facts to Remember
Fill in the blanks with the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.
1. The major job of Congress is to
2. Only a
.
may introduce a bill.
3. Because so many bills must be considered, Congress is divided into
4. The President must approve or veto a bill within
days after it is sent to him.
5. Congress can override the President's veto by a
vote in both houses.
D. Things to Do
After consulting an almanac or encyclopedia, answer the following questions.
1. List three committees of the House of Representatives and describe the work of each one.
2. List three committees of the Senate and describe the work of each one.
3. Write a brief paragraph explaining the functions of a conference committee.