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HOW LAWS ARE MADE

A "Congress" is a two year period following a biennial election of all Representatives and one-third of the Senate. The Congress consists of two sessions.

Membership:

  • House of Representatives: 435 Representatives
  • Senate: 100 Senators (2 for each state)

Unique Roles:

  • House of Representatives originates all revenue bills (by constitutional mandate) and, by tradition, all appropriation bills.
  • Senate ratifies all treaties and Presidential appointments (by constitutional mandate).

A "bill" is proposed legislation:

  • One Representative or Senator "sponsors" a bill.
  • Two or more Representatives or Senators "co-sponsor" a bill.
  • Once introduced, the bill is numbered sequentially, and then referred to an appropriate committee.
  • The committee will usually take no immediate action unless the committee chair is a sponsor or co-sponsor of a bill.

Committee Hearings:

  • The committee may hold hearings.
  • There may subsequently be a "markup" of the bill.
  • "Markup" means an editing or amending of the bill in committee.

Floor Debates:

  • Once it is "reported out" of committee the bill must then be considered on the floor of the chamber.
  • If the bill is brought to the House floor, the House Rules Committee may adopt a resolution (which may be debated) stating rules for the consideration of that specific bill on the House floor.
  • The Senate has its famous filibuster and cloture procedure.

Conference Committee:

  • If the House and Senate vote on similar but not identical bills, a conference committee will meet to draft a bill acceptable to both chambers.

Presidential Approval or Veto:

  • Once a bill is approved by both chambers, it is submitted to the President of the United States for her signature.
  • If she signs the bill, it either becomes law immediately or on a given effective date.
  • If she vetoes the bill, it may still become law if each chamber votes by 2/3's of the membership to override the Presidential veto.
  • If Congress is in session and the President fails to sign or veto the bill, it becomes law.
  • If Congress adjourns and the President fails to sign the bill within ten days, the result is a veto, known as a "pocket veto."
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