Understanding Lawmaking: Teaching How Bills Become Laws

Teaching students about how a bill becomes a law is a crucial aspect of civics and government education. While this topic is often confined to verbal explanations and flowcharts, it can be challenging to engage students with the legislative process. In this lesson plan, we will explore creative strategies to make the journey of a bill towards becoming a law more captivating and interactive for students aged 9 to 12. We will discuss various activities, games, and real-world connections that bring the legislative process to life, helping students gain a deeper understanding of the intricate path from bill to law.

The Bill Is Proposed

The first step in the legislative process is proposing a bill. A bill is a draft law that has not yet been passed. It can be proposed by a Representative or a citizen. If a citizen has an idea for a new law, they can contact their Representative to discuss it. If the Representative agrees with the idea, they will research and write it into a bill.

Once a Representative has written a bill, the next step is to find a sponsor. The Representative will talk to other Representatives about the bill, hoping to gain their support. This is an important step, as a bill needs the support of other Representatives to be introduced and passed.

When a bill has a sponsor and the support of a group of Representatives, it is ready to be introduced. However, before it can be introduced, the bill goes through several preliminary steps. These steps include assigning the bill to a committee, which will closely examine, debate, and refine it. The committee may also choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for further review and expert opinions.

After the committee has finished its work, the bill is reported to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated and voted on by the Representatives. This is a crucial step, as the bill must pass a vote in the House to move forward in the legislative process.

Overall, the proposal stage of a bill is complex and involves gaining support from other Representatives, as well as careful review and refinement by committees. It is a critical step in the process of a bill becoming a law.

The Bill Is Introduced

Now that we have covered the preliminary steps, we can move on to the official introduction of the bill. This is a formal process with specific procedures that must be followed.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it is placed in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. It is important to note that only Representatives are permitted to introduce bills in the House of Representatives. This is a crucial step in the legislative process, as it marks the official beginning of a bill's journey to potentially becoming a law.

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned a unique number that starts with "H.R." by a bill clerk. This numbering system helps with identification and tracking throughout the legislative process. Following this, a reading clerk will read the bill aloud to all the Representatives present. This ensures transparency and allows everyone to understand the content and purpose of the bill.

After the bill has been introduced and read, the Speaker of the House will then assign it to one of the House standing committees. These committees are groups of Representatives who possess expertise in specific areas, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee assignment is an important step as it determines which group of experts will initially review, research, and revise the bill.

The process of introducing a bill is a significant milestone, as it signifies that an idea has progressed from a concept to an official proposal that is now part of the legislative process. It is the first step in a series of steps that a bill must go through before it can become a law.

The Bill Goes to Committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is sent to a committee. The Speaker of the House assigns the bill to one of the House standing committees. The committee members are groups of Representatives who are experts on specific topics, such as agriculture, education, or international relations.

The committee members review, research, and revise the bill. They may also choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for further examination and to gather expert opinions. The subcommittee closely examines the bill before sending it back to the committee for approval.

The committee then votes on whether to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee approves the bill, it is reported to the House floor for debate and further discussion.

The committee stage is crucial in the legislative process as it allows for a detailed examination and revision of the bill by subject-matter experts. It also provides an opportunity to gather additional information and expert opinions through subcommittees. This ensures that the bill is thoroughly vetted and refined before progressing further in the legislative process.

The Bill Is Reported

Once the bill has been reviewed by the committee and subcommittee, it is sent back to the House floor. This is when the bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. Representatives will discuss the bill, explaining their reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with it. A reading clerk will then read the bill section by section, and Representatives will recommend any changes they believe are necessary. Once all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The first is Viva Voce, where the Speaker of the House asks those in support of the bill to say "aye" and those against it to say "no". The second is Division, where the Speaker asks those in support of the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose the bill. The third method is Recorded, where Representatives use an electronic voting system to record their vote. They can vote "yes", "no", or "present" if they do not wish to vote on the bill. If a majority of Representatives vote "yes", the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives and is then sent to the U.S. Senate. If the bill does not receive majority support, it is rejected and does not proceed further.

It is important to note that the process of a bill becoming a law involves multiple steps and stages. Before a bill can become a law, it must be proposed, introduced, reviewed by committees and subcommittees, reported to the House floor, voted on, and then referred to the Senate for further review and voting. Each of these steps plays a crucial role in shaping and refining the bill before it can become a law.

The U.S. House of Representatives plays a vital role in this process, as they are responsible for initiating the process and ensuring that the bill has a solid foundation before it moves forward. This includes proposing the bill, introducing it to the House, assigning it to committees and subcommittees for review, and then reporting it back to the House floor for debate and voting. The House's involvement in these initial steps sets the tone for the rest of the bill's journey toward becoming a law.

The Bill Is Voted On

Once a bill has been debated and all changes have been made, it is ready to be voted on. There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: viva voce, division, and recorded.

Viva Voce (Voice Vote)

The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those who oppose it to say "no." This is a quick and simple way to determine the majority opinion.

Division

In this method, the Speaker of the House asks those Representatives who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then those who oppose the bill to do the same. This provides a visual representation of the vote and is another way to quickly assess the majority view.

Recorded

Representatives record their vote using an electronic voting system. They can vote yes, no, or present if they don't wish to vote on the bill. This method provides an official record of each Representative's vote, which can be important for transparency and accountability.

If a majority of the Representatives vote yes or select yes on the electronic system, the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate, where it will go through a similar process.

It is worth noting that the voting process is just one step in the journey of a bill becoming a law. Before the vote, a bill must be proposed, introduced, assigned to a committee, and debated. After the vote, the bill still needs to pass through the Senate and, if successful, be sent to the President for approval or veto.

The process of turning a bill into a law is complex and time-consuming, with many steps and potential obstacles along the way. It is a core function of a representative democracy, where citizens can propose ideas for laws and have their voices heard through their elected representatives.

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