Understanding Lawmaking: Vocabulary Worksheet For Aspiring Citizens

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one, with many steps and stages. It's important for students to understand this process, and the vocabulary associated with it, as it is the most important job of the U.S. House of Representatives. This worksheet will help students to understand the journey of a bill, from its proposal to its introduction, and its progression through committees, the House floor, the Senate, and finally, the President.

The role of sponsors and co-sponsors

Before a bill can be introduced, it needs a sponsor. A sponsor is a representative who has written the bill and is seeking support from other representatives. Typically, before a representative introduces a bill, they will want to ensure that other members of Congress will support it. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the representatives, it is ready to be introduced.

The sponsor places the document in a special box to the side of the clerk's desk, called the hopper. Only representatives can introduce bills in the House of Representatives. When a bill is introduced, a bill clerk assigns it a number that begins with H.R. A reading clerk then reads the bill to all the representatives, and the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

A bill can have multiple co-sponsors. Co-sponsors are additional members of Congress who support the bill. Co-sponsors are listed alongside the sponsor on the bill. Having multiple co-sponsors from both sides of the aisle can help a bill gain traction and increase the likelihood of it becoming a law.

The sponsor and co-sponsors play a crucial role in the bill's journey to becoming a law. They are responsible for advocating for the bill, building support, and guiding it through the legislative process. They may also need to make amendments to the bill to address concerns raised by other representatives or committees.

The committee process

The committee may also send the bill to a subcommittee for closer examination. A subcommittee is a smaller group that works under the committee to gather expert opinions and conduct a detailed analysis of the bill before sending it back to the committee for final approval. This additional step ensures that the bill is thoroughly vetted and refined before moving forward in the legislative process.

During the committee process, the bill is scrutinized and evaluated based on its merits. Technical experts, lawyers, and policy analysts may be consulted to provide their insights and recommendations. The committee may propose amendments or revisions to address any concerns or shortcomings identified during their review. This collaborative effort is essential to ensure that the bill is comprehensive, effective, and aligned with the relevant policies and regulations.

Once the committee has finished its work, the bill is sent back to the House floor, where it will be debated and voted on by the full body of representatives. At this stage, representatives will have the opportunity to discuss the bill, explain their support or opposition, and propose any final changes before the voting process begins.

Voting methods

There are several methods of voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. These are:

• Viva Voce (voice vote): The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say “aye” and those that oppose it say “no.”
• Division: 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 stand up and be counted.
• Recorded: Representatives record their vote using the electronic voting system. Representatives can vote yes, no, or present (if they don’t want to vote on the bill).

If a majority of the Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives and is then certified by the Clerk of the House before being delivered to the U.S. Senate.

In the Senate, voting is done by voice. Senators who support the bill say “yea,” and those who oppose it say “nay.”. If a majority of the Senators say “yea,” the bill passes in the U.S. Senate and is ready to go to the President.

The veto

When a bill reaches the President's desk, they have three options: they can sign and pass the bill into law; they can refuse to sign it, exercising their veto power; or they can choose to do nothing, resulting in what is known as a "pocket veto."

If the President decides to veto a bill, they must provide their reasons for doing so. The bill is then sent back to the chamber of Congress from which it originated, where it is once again debated and voted on. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden, and the bill becomes a law.

The pocket veto is a unique aspect of the legislative process. It occurs when Congress is in session, and the President chooses not to sign a bill within ten days. In this case, the bill does not become a law. However, if Congress adjourns before the ten-day period ends and the President has not signed the bill, it results in a pocket veto, which cannot be overridden by Congress.

In conclusion, the veto gives the President significant influence over the legislative process. While Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority vote, the pocket veto allows the President to effectively block a bill from becoming a law by taking no action, highlighting the delicate balance of powers in the US political system.

Public vs private bills

A public bill is a proposed law that would apply to everyone within its jurisdiction. It deals with matters of national interest or matters that affect the general public or classes of citizens. Public bills are the most common type of bill introduced in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the United States. If they are enacted, they become public general acts.

A private bill is a proposal for a law that affects only a single person, group, or area. It provides benefits or exemptions to specified individuals or organizations, including corporations. Private bills are used to grant citizenship, permanent residency, veteran benefits, or to address taxation problems. Private bills are less common than public bills, as federal agencies can now address many of the issues that were previously dealt with under private bills.

For both public and private bills, the process of becoming a law is similar. It begins when a member of Congress introduces it to the House or the Senate. The bill is then discussed, amended, and voted on by the respective chamber. If passed, it moves to the other chamber for further analysis and amendments. Once both chambers have approved the bill, it is sent to the President for approval. If the President approves, the bill becomes a law.

Frequently asked questions