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Here is a cute simple song to help you remember how a bill becomes a law.

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Here is a cute simple song to help you remember how a bill becomes a law.

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From Schoolhouse Rock on YouTube - I'm Just a Bill

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If no action is taken for 10 days and Congress has already ended their meeting, then a pocket veto occurs. This effectively makes the bill dead.

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If no action is taken for 10 days and Congress has already ended their meeting, then a pocket veto occurs. This effectively makes the bill dead.

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NOTE: a pocket veto is when the president has not taken action, Congress has ended their meeting and does not plan on returning, which creates a veto that makes the bill die because there is no other way to approve a bill.

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The Floor votes against the bill, which makes the bill dead.

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The Floor votes against the bill, which makes the bill dead.

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NOTE: The floor refers to the voting process that takes place after a committee sent the bill to the original house that drafted the bill for approval.

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The committee approves of the bill and decides to send the bill to congress for approval.

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The committee approves of the bill and decides to send the bill to congress for approval.

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The committee decides not to send the bill to congress, which makes the bill dead.

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The committee decides not to send the bill to congress, which makes the bill dead.

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The President
who: the current president of the United States, as of 2022, is Joe Biden
job: responsible for implementing and enforcing laws written by Congress (they also have the power to veto), and appointing heads of federal agencies (ex. Cabinet)
The president is elected to serve for four years and can serve a max of two terms. The president is elected through the electoral college (a group of people voted by people to represent their ideas) and a popular vote. The popular vote and the electoral college both have weight as to have more balance in selecting a president.

The Veto
what: a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body
purpose: it is used to prevent a bill from being enacted into the law
how it works: the president has 10 days to sign a bill passed by Congress

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Committee decides to not act on the bill, which makes the bill dead.

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Committee decides to not act on the bill, which makes the bill dead.

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This color post has information explaining details that are important to understanding the bill to law process.

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This color post has information explaining details that are important to understanding the bill to law process.

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This color post means the bill dies. When a bill dies it is no longer on track to become a law

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This color post means the bill dies. When a bill dies it is no longer on track to become a law

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This color post means the bill can still be on track to become a law

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This color post means the bill can still be on track to become a law

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If the Senate and the House cannot meet a two-thirds majority to pass the bill, then the bill dies.

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If the Senate and the House cannot meet a two-thirds majority to pass the bill, then the bill dies.

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If the Senate and the House have a two-thirds majority in passing the bill, then the bill becomes a law regardless of the President's veto.

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If the Senate and the House have a two-thirds majority in passing the bill, then the bill becomes a law regardless of the President's veto.

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The bill becomes a law if the president approves the bill or they take no action while Congress is in session for ten days.

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The bill becomes a law if the president approves the bill or they take no action while Congress is in session for ten days.

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A veto is explained on informational post #3)

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The Bill is shown to the president of the United States.

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The Bill is shown to the president of the United States.

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The president is explained on informational post #3

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If a compromise is met and both houses agree to the conference report, then the bill can proceed to the next step.

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If a compromise is met and both houses agree to the conference report, then the bill can proceed to the next step.

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NOTE: a conference report is the changes made to the bill.

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If a compromise is unmet, then the bill dies

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If a compromise is unmet, then the bill dies

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a conference committee is had between the Senate's and House of Representative's version of the bill to see if a compromise can be created between the two different versions of the bill

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a conference committee is had between the Senate's and House of Representative's version of the bill to see if a compromise can be created between the two different versions of the bill

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NOTE: a conference committee is a meeting between the Senate and the House of Representatives to see if they can come to a comprimise.

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the other house votes to makes a change to the bill, reject the bill, or ignore the bill.

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the other house votes to makes a change to the bill, reject the bill, or ignore the bill.

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The other house votes in favor of the bill

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The other house votes in favor of the bill

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To move to the next step, the other house must have majority vote in favor of the bill.

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In almost all cases, the subcommittee's changes are reviewed and new changes are applied to the bill.

The committee can decide to forgo a sub committee and just change the bill themselves without the bill being sent to a sub committee.

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sub committee(s) review and changes the bill

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sub committee(s) review and changes the bill

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The bill is sent to one or more more specialized sub committees. This sub committee has a meeting to study the bill and propose changes to the bill. The bill is then sent back to the original less specialized committee to review the changes.

Explanation for what a sub committee is can be found on informational post #2.

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#1) CONGRESS: THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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#1) CONGRESS: THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

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Brief Description
- The Senate and the House of Representatives both work within themselves and collaborate together to efficiently and (ideally) fairly pass and regulate legislation.

The Senate
- members: There are 100 members (two per state), and each member has a 6 year term.
- how to become a member: requirements include being at least 30 years old, being a citizen of the US for at least 9 years, & be a resident of the State they are representing
- job: takes action on bills, resolutions, amendments, motions, nominations, & treaties through the process of voting
- voting details: the Senate votes in a variety of ways, including roll call (yea or nay when their name is called), voice, and unanimous (everyone agrees) votes

The House of Representatives
- members: There are 435 members (based on population of a state), and each member has a two year term.
- how to become a member: requirements include being at least 25 years old, being a citizen of the US for at least 7 years, & live in the state they represent (not necessarily in the same district)
- job: makes and passes federal laws in collaboration with the Senate
- voting details: roll call (yea or nay), teller votes

Voting Details
- why do they vote the way they do? The Senate and the House of Representatives vote the way they do with fairness of representation in mind.
- do YOU have to vote? No. Voting on the ratification of bills is not something extended out to everyday citizens but is rather a matter kept between those in the Senate and the House of Representatives, and more specifically those in the committee relevant to the subject in question.
- do SENATORS or REPRESENTATIVES have to vote? Majority in both the Senate and the House must be reached for a bill to pass. Even so, Senators can request to abstain from voting, but they must provide a reason or the abstention.

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Bill is introduced into the Senate or the House of Representatives

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Bill is introduced into the Senate or the House of Representatives

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Whichever house drafted the bill (Senate or House of Representatives) will then introduce the bill to the rest of that house respectively. For example if the Senate drafted the bill, then the bill will also be introduced to the Senate.

Explanation for the Senate and House of Representatives is on information post #1.

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For example if the bill started in the senate, then the bill will be passed to the House of Representatives.

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House of Representatives or Senate vote on the bill

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House of Representatives or Senate vote on the bill

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The bill is sent back to the original house that drafted the bill. For example if the bill was drafted in the Senate, then the bill will be sent from the committee to the Senate. The house that drafted the bill will vote to see if the bill will be sent to the other house. The other house is the house that did not draft the bill. For example if the bill was drafted in the Senate, then the bill would be sent to the House of Representatives to be further approved.

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Definition: In Congress, committees are a legislative sub-organization that handle tasks such as conducting hearings & oversight, examining & developing legislation, &/or helping manage chamber business and activities.

Types of Committees: Standing, Select, Joint, & Conference

Members: Those in the Senate and the House of Representatives
- Standing and Select committees exist separately in each branch of Congress
- Joint and Conference committees can have members from both branches of Congress

Membership Process:
- Each party assigns its own members to committees; furthermore, each committee distributes its members among subcommittees
- factors of membership and leadership in a committee include qualifications such as seniority, areas of expertise, & relevance of committee jurisdiction to a member's/senator's state

Standing Committees
- members: Senators or Representatives, but not both in one standing committee
- job: consider and recommend actions, as well as propose policies in areas under the jurisdiction of that committee
- purpose: consider and shape vast majority of proposed laws

Select Committees
- members: Senators or Representatives, but not both in one standing committee
- job: study specific topics assigned to them that are relevant to current issues
- purpose: short-term groups made for quick solutions, but can sometimes last long

Joint Committees
- members: those in the Senate & the House of Representatives
- job: focus public attention on major issues, sometimes handle routine matters
- purpose: set up to conduct business between the houses

Conference Committees
- members: those in the Senate and the House of Representatives
- job: review disputed material in a bill and strive to reach a compromise between opposing sides
- purpose: specially created when reconciliation between the House & the Senate is needed regarding a bill

Specialized Committees
- members: those with knowledge relevant to the specialized matter at hand
- job: revise bills and be aware of the issues related to the subject at hand

Subcommittees
- A subcommittee is a committee that is even more specialized on a specific matter. For example, a committee might be agricultural, but the subcommittee might specialize in fertilizer.
- job: review & changes the bill

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The bill is referred to a committee that is respective to that topic. For example if the bill was regarding a agricultural issue, then the bill would be sent to a committee that specializes and knows more about agriculture. The bill is examined by this committee which decides if it will act on the bill.

Explanation for a committee is on informational post #2.

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Any member of congress can draft a bill. Congress does not have to be the original creator of the idea of the bill. A citizen can come up with the idea; however, congress must be the ones to draft the bill itself. Our idea of a bill is that every college must contain a bathroom that does not specify which gender is allowed into the restroom.