HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW THROUGH CONGRESS

THE IDEA

• All laws begin as bills. These bills begin as ideas from U.S. citizens. The idea is presented to the state representative. If the representative likes it, he/ she writes a bill for it.

SPONSORSHIP

• Once the bill is written it needs sponsors. Sponsors could be other state representatives. Once it has sponsors, the bill can be presented. The bill is placed in a box called the Hopper. A Reading Clerk then reads the bill to all the other state representatives and is sent to a standing committee.

COMMITTEE REVIEW

• Once the bill reaches committee, the committee members review, research, and revise the bill before voting on it. If more info on the bill is wanted, it is sent to a subcommittee to be looked at by experts on politics and economics. After more information is found, the bill is voted on by the committee. If it is voted to pass, the bill moves on to the House Floor.

HOUSE FLOOR

• On the House Floor, the House of Representatives debate whether to pass or table (to cease further action on the bill) the bill. After the debating, the representatives make changes to the bill and vote on it.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO VOTE

• There are 3 different ways to vote: voice, division, or recorded voting.
• Voice: those who support the bill say "aye" and those who don't say "no".
• Division: those who support the bill stand up and are counted. Then, those who don't support it stand and are counted.
• Recorded Voting: the representatives vote with an electronic machine where they can vote "yes", "no", or "present" (if they do not want to vote).

TO THE SENATE

• If the majority vote is to pass the bill, the bill moves on to the Senate. In the Senate, the bill goes through the same process as before; being discussed, changed, and voted on.
• Senators vote by voice. They say either "yea" to support it or "nay" to not support it. If the bill is voted to pass, it moves to the President.

THE PRESIDENT'S DECISION

• Once the bill reaches the President, he has ten days to either veto the bill, or pass it as a law. If he does nothing, it becomes a "pocket veto". If congress is in session, the bill becomes a law after ten days. If congress isn't in session, the bill does not become a law.
• If the President vetoes the bill but congress disagrees with his decision, they can override his veto with a two-thirds vote.
• If the bill is passed, it becomes a law and is enforced.