Guide: How a Bill Becomes a LawSteps:1. Bill Introductiona. Ideas and language for bills may come fram lawmakers, labbyists, the president, andsometimes regular citizens.b. But only members of the House of Representatives of the Senate can introduce a bill.c. Bills can start in either the House or the Senate.i. Applied thinking: What role might interest groups play at this stage of legislation?2. Committee Actiona. After a bill is introduced in the House ar Senate, bills are sent to a committee (orsubcommittees) related to the subject of the bill. The committee will hold a hearing with variousexperts to analyze the bill and receive public comment.b. Committees are small groups of lawmakers who are experts in the subject area.c. Committees can:i. "Table" a bill (gnore it).ii. Kill a bill (vote "no").ii. Rewrite or amend the bill.iv. Or advance the bill (vote "yes").3. Floor Actiona. Bill is debated by the full House or Senate.b. Amendments (changes) are offered/added to the bill.c. Vote is taken (approve or reject).1. Iif the bill passes, it is then sent to the other house (chamber) to start the process alloveri. If the bill passes in a version that is different from that passed in the other chamber, it issent to conference committee.li. If the Senate and the House pass the exact same bill, it is sent to the president for eithersignature (approval) or veto (rejection).4. Bill goes to the other house of Congressa. If a billis frst passed in the Senate, then the bill also needs to be passed in the house, andvice-versa.b. If the House and Senate approve different versions of the same bil, then the bill goes toconference committee (step 5) to work out any differences.c. If the Senate and the House pass the exact same bill, it is sent to the president (step 6) foreither signature (approval) ar veta (rejection).5. Bill goes to Conference Committeea. If the House and the Senate do not pass the exact same bil, the bill goes to conferencecommittee.b. The committee, composed of members of both the House and Senate, meet to make changesto the two bills so they are exactly the same.c. The updated bill is then sent back to both the House and Senate for a vote.d. If both chambers pass the exact same bill, it is sent to the president.6. Presidential Decision:a. If the House and the Senate pass the exact same bill, it is sent to the president for eithersignature (approval) or veto (rejection).b. If the president signs a bill, it becomes law.c. A presidential veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

Guide: How a Bill Becomes a Law Steps: 1. Bill Introduction a. Ideas and language for bils may come fram lawmakers, lobbyists, the president, and sometimes regular citizens. b. But only members of the House of Representatives of the Senate can introduce a bil. c. Bills can start in either the House or the Senate. i. Applied thinking: What role might interest groups play at this stage of legislation? 2. Committee Action a. After a bill is introduced in the House or Senate, bills are sent to a committee (or subcommittees) related to the subject of the bil. The committee will hold a hearing with various experts to analyze the bill and receive public comment. b. Committees are small groups of lawmakers who are experts in the subject area. c. Committees can: i. Table" a bill (gnore it). i. Kill a bill (vote "no"). . Rewrite or amend the bil. iv. Or advance the bill (vote "yes"). 3. Floor Action a. Bill is debated by the full House or Senate. b. Amendments (changes) are offered/added to the bill. c. Vote is taken (approve or reject). i I the bil passes, it is then sent to the other house (chamber) to start the process all over i. If the bill passes in a version that is different from that passed in the other chamber, it is sent to conference committee. . If the Senate and the House pass the exact same bil, it is sent to the president for either signature (approval) or veto (rejection). 4. Bill goes to the other house of Congress a. If a bill is first passed in the Senate, then the bill also needs to be passed in the house, and vice-versa. b. If the House and Senate approve different versions of the same bill, then the bill goes to conference committee (step 5) to work out any differences. c. If the Senate and the House pass the exact same bill, it is sent to the president (step 6) for either signature (approval) or veto (rejection). 5. Bill goes to Conference Committee a. If the House and the Senate do not pass the exact same bil, the bill goes to conference committee. b. The committee, composed of members of both the House and Senate, meet to make changes to the two bils so they are exactly the same. c. The updated billis then sent back to both the House and Senate for a vote. d. If both chambers pass the exact same bill, it is sent to the president. 6. Presidential Decision: a. If the House and the Senate pass the exact same bill, it is sent to the president for either signature (approval) or veto (rejection). b. If the president signs a bill, it becomes law. C. A presidential veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.