Step 1

1. Step 1 • Each “bill” starts out as an idea • These ideas can come from Congress, private citizensor from the President • Special Interest Groups (groups of individuals who try to influence Congress) may also present ideas to Congress that may become bills. • National Rifle Association (N.R.A.) • Federal Assault Weapons Ban (idea came from the President and opposed by the NRA – did not pass (or become law)) • Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (signed by President Bush in 2005; supported by the NRA – is a Federal Law today.)

2. Step 2 • Every “bill” must start out and be introduced by a member of Congress • Every “bill” is given a title and number based on which House it is introduced in • H.R.1= House of Representatives • S.1 = Senate

3. Step 3 • After it is introduced, each bill is then sent to the committeewho handle bills of that topic • Bills related to standardized testing or schools would be reviewed by the Committee on Education

4. Step 4 • Committees receive hundreds of bills and they decide the lifeor deathof these bills • Those that the committee feels are valuable are then sent to a subcommitteeto be researched (public hearings may be held) • In a public hearing about standardized testing, the subcommittee would hear from principals, teachers, parents, etc.

5. Step 5 • The subcommittee will report back to the committeewho will decide if the “bill” should: • Passwithout changes • Have changesand be passed along • Be replaced with a new/better bill • Die– the bill is killed and has no chance of becoming a law that session of Congress.

6. Step 6 • If a bill is approved by the committee, then it is ready to be heard and voted on by the full House of Representatives or the full Senate. • When a bill reaches the floor of the House or Senate, the members argue their prosand cons • The Senate also allows filibusters(when a Senator tries to “talk a bill to death”) • A filibuster can only be stopped by a 3/5ths vote

7. Longest Filibuster Ever… • U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond • The record for the longest filibuster goes to U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957, according to U.S. Senate records. • Thurmond began speaking at 8:54 p.m. on Aug. 28 and continued until 9:12 p.m. the following evening, reciting the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, President George Washington's farewell address and other historical documents along the way. • Thurmond was not the only lawmaker to filibuster on the issue, however. According to Senate records, teams of senators consumed 57 days filibustering between March 26 and June 19, the day the Civil Rights Act of 1957 passed.

8. Step 7 • The next step is for the members of the House of Representatives or the Senate to vote. • There are three different ways that a vote can be taken: • Voice Vote (Senate only) • Standing Vote (Senate only) • Roll-call or today’s Computerized Vote • A simple majority voteis all that is needed to pass a bill. If either house refusesto pass it, the bill dies. • The bill must be passed in identical formats in both houses – conference committees may be needed

9. Step 8 • Presidential Actionis the final step in the process. SVD(PP)

10. SVD(PP) • S stands for Sign It! The President can sign the bill into law! • V stands for Veto – which means to refuse to sign. • As a limit on the President’s power to veto, Congress can override the veto with a 2/3rds vote in each house – very unlikely • D stands for “Do Nothing”… The President can avoid acting on a bill by just leaving it on his desk. He is given 10 Days to “do nothing”… after 10 Days, • If Congress is still in session – the Bill becomes a Law, it automatically Passes! • If Congress’ session ends before the 10 Days are up, the bill dies and this is called a Pocket veto!