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Easy to Follow Chart

Easy to Follow Chart. Who can propose a law?. Anyone can suggest an idea for a law. Only Members of Congress can introduce a proposed law to the House or Senate. What happens first?. Member of House or Senate drafts bill. Member submits bill to House or Senate.

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Easy to Follow Chart

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  1. Easy to Follow Chart

  2. Who can propose a law? • Anyone can suggest an idea for a law. • Only Members of Congress can introduce a proposed law to the House or Senate.

  3. What happens first? • Member of House or Senate drafts bill. • Member submits bill to House or Senate. • Bill assigned a number that begins with: • H.R. for House of Representatives • S. for Senate • Bill then sent to appropriate committee. • Maybe sent to multiple committees or sections divided among committees.

  4. The Standing Committee • Permanent committees in both chambers that study bills related to a general topic such as education, agriculture, energy, homeland security, armed forces, transportation etc. • Committee chair assigns the bill to the appropriate subcommittee.

  5. Indian Affairs Committees • Senate: Senate Committee on Indian AffairsDaniel Akaka, Chair (D-HI) • House: Indian & Alaska Native Affairs Committee House National Resources Committee subcommitteeDon Young, Chair (R-AK)

  6. The Subcommittee • Subcommittee studies bills related to sub-set topics of the standing committee. • Members of the subcommittee are members of the standing committee. • Most of the discussion in Congress takes place here. • Chair of the subcommittee consults with other committee members, decides whether to schedule a bill for discussion. • The subcommittee may also decide to stop action on a bill that they think is not necessary or wise. The bill then dies.

  7. The Subcommittee - continued • Subcommittee first holds hearings on bill, for supporters, opponents, experts to express views. • Bill amendments are suggested and voted on. • Subcommittee may revise or author new bill. • Subcommittee votes to take the bill to the full committee. • If bill does not pass, it dies.

  8. The Standing Committee • Committee discusses the bill. • Committee members offer and vote on amendments. • Committee votes to send the bill to the full House or Senate.

  9. The Standing Committee – cont. • If passed, committee writes report explaining: • Key points of the bill • Changes made • How bill compares to current laws • Why bill is recommended for approval • Bill and the report are then sent to the full House or Senate.

  10. The Floor (whole House or Senate) • Bill placed on calendar of House or Senate until scheduled for discussion. • House and Senate have different rules for debating bills.

  11. Debate on the Housefloor • House is chaired by the Speaker. • Before debate, time limit set for Members to speak (usually 1 – 5 minutes). • Members alternate back and forth between supporters and opponents of bill.

  12. Debate on the Housefloor – cont. • Debate can be ended by simple majority vote. • After debate, amendments suggested and debated. Same rules apply. • Finally, bill is put to a vote.

  13. Debate on the Senatefloor • Senate chaired by the Vice President; more often is the President Pro Tempore. • No time limit to debate in Senate. Members speak as long as they choose. • Amendments can be offered during debate. • When debate ends, the bill is put to a vote.

  14. What happens next? • House and Senate must pass similar versions. • When bill passes one chamber, it is sent to the other chamber for debate, amendment and vote. • After both chambers pass similar bills, the two bills are sent to a conference committee.

  15. The Conference Committee • Conference committee are members of both chambers. • Committee addresses differences between versions. • They re-write bill in a form that appeals to both chambers and vote on it. • If revised bill passes Committee, committee submits a report that contains: • The revised bill • Explanation how differences where addressed between the two bills

  16. Back to the floor • Conference committee report with revised bill is sent back to both chambers for a vote. • If bill fails to pass both chambers, it dies. • If bill passes both chambers, it goes to the President.

  17. The President President has 4 options: • Sign. Becomes law when signed. • Law without signature. Bill held without signing for 10 days while Congress in session becomes law.

  18. The President - continued • Veto. Sent back Congress with reasons. Override requires 2/3 affirmative vote of both chambers. • Pocket veto. If Congress adjourns before 10 day period expires and President has not signed bill, the bill dies.

  19. Yea! I’m done! • Thanks again for your attention

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