Snl's "How A Bill Does Not Become A Law" Explained

In 2014, Saturday Night Live parodied the famous School House Rock! segment I'm Just a Bill, which explains how a bill becomes a law. The sketch, titled How a Bill Does Not Become a Law, featured Kenan Thompson as an immigration bill, Kyle Mooney as a boy, Jay Pharoah as President Barack Obama, and Bobby Moynihan as an executive order. In the sketch, the bill sings a slightly altered version of the original song before being pushed down the Capitol Hill steps several times by President Obama, who explains that it is easier to use an executive order to get things done. The sketch was a critique of Obama's frequent use of executive orders during his presidency.

The sketch is a parody of the Schoolhouse Rock! segment I'm Just a Bill

The sketch "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law" is a parody of the Schoolhouse Rock! segment "I'm Just a Bill", which explains how a bill becomes a law in the United States. The sketch aired on Saturday Night Live on November 22, 2014, and pokes fun at President Barack Obama's frequent use of executive orders during his term.

In the sketch, Kenan Thompson plays an immigration bill, singing a slightly altered version of the song to Kyle Mooney. President Barack Obama, played by Jay Pharoah, pushes the bill down the Capitol Hill steps several times, explaining to Kyle that it is much easier to use an executive order (Bobby Moynihan). The executive order introduces itself by singing, "I'm an executive order, and I pretty much just happen".

The original "I'm Just a Bill" segment from Schoolhouse Rock! is an educational and musical short that teaches how a bill becomes a law, including the need to go through Congress and the possibility of being vetoed. The song is sung by Jack Sheldon, with dialogue by his son John as the boy learning the process. The bill in the song is for a law that school buses must stop at railroad crossings, likely referencing the Gilchrest Road, New York crossing accident.

The SNL sketch parodies the format and content of the original Schoolhouse Rock! segment, presenting a comedic critique of the Obama administration's use of executive orders.

The bill is pushed down the Capitol Hill steps by President Obama

In the Saturday Night Live sketch, "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law", President Obama, played by Jay Pharoah, pushes the bill, played by Kenan Thompson, down the Capitol Hill steps several times. The bill is first introduced singing on the steps of the Capitol Hill building. It is an immigration bill, and it explains the process of how a bill becomes a law, including going to the House, getting a majority vote in the Senate, and then ending up on the President's desk. However, before it can finish, President Obama interrupts the song by pushing the bill down the stairs.

The bill tumbles down the steps, lamenting its paper legs, and is then joined by Kyle Mooney's character and President Obama, who introduces the concept of an executive order as an easier way to get things done. The executive order, played by Bobby Moynihan, sings about how it "pretty much just happens", and when asked by Kyle if it has to go through Congress, laughs and says, "That's adorable. You still think that's how government works."

The bill returns to continue its explanation but is pushed down the stairs again by President Obama. This time, it comments that it thinks it landed on its keys. Kyle asks if this is constitutional, to which President Obama replies that executive orders are common and happen all the time. The executive order then sings about the various things it could do, like creating a national park or granting legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants.

The bill returns once more, threatening to take President Obama to court, but is pushed down the stairs again. President Obama then asks Kyle what he thinks about the government now, to which Kyle replies that he wants to go into the private sector, a sentiment echoed by President Obama.

An executive order is easier to pass than a bill

In the Saturday Night Live sketch "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law", Kenan Thompson plays a bill that is pushed down the stairs of the Capitol building several times by President Barack Obama, played by Jay Pharoah. The bill sings a song about how it hopes to become a law one day, but Obama points out that there is an easier way to get things done: issuing an executive order.

The executive order, played by Bobby Moynihan, introduces itself by singing, "I'm an executive order, and I pretty much just happen". When asked by Kyle Mooney's character if it has to go through Congress, the executive order laughs and says, "That's adorable. You still think that's how government works." This highlights the perception that executive orders can be issued without the same level of scrutiny and debate as bills, making them easier to pass.

In the sketch, the bill represents an immigration bill, which could be created by Republicans and passed by a majority vote in the House and Senate before ending up on the President's desk. However, Obama repeatedly pushes the bill down the stairs, symbolizing the obstacles and delays that a bill can face on its path to becoming a law. On the other hand, the executive order is shown as a faster and more direct way for the President to implement their agenda without needing to go through the same rigorous process as a bill.

Executive orders are typically issued by the President to direct the actions of federal agencies and interpret existing laws. They are often used to bypass Congress and can be enacted quickly, without the need for debate or approval from other branches of government. In contrast, a bill must go through a lengthy legislative process, including multiple votes and potential amendments, before it can become a law. This is what makes an executive order easier to "pass" than a bill in the sense that it can be issued more swiftly and with less opposition.

The sketch critiques Obama's frequent usage of executive orders

The Saturday Night Live sketch "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law" is a critique of former President Barack Obama's frequent usage of executive orders during his term. In the sketch, an immigration bill, played by Kenan Thompson, sings a slightly altered version of the Schoolhouse Rock! song "I'm Just a Bill" to a boy, played by Kyle Mooney. However, President Obama, played by Jay Pharoah, pushes the bill down the Capitol Hill steps several times, explaining to the boy that it is much easier to use an executive order, played by Bobby Moynihan.

The executive order introduces itself by singing, "I'm an executive order, and I pretty much just happen." This line critiques Obama's reliance on executive orders, suggesting that he bypassed the standard legislative process by using them to enact his agenda. The sketch also implies that Obama's use of executive orders undermined the role of Congress in the law-making process, with the executive order laughing at the idea that it has to go through Congress at some point.

The sketch further satirizes Obama's use of executive orders by having him issue an order to grant legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants. The executive order is surprised by this, exclaiming, "Oh my god! But I didn't have time to read myself." This moment highlights the potential lack of oversight and consideration in the executive order process compared to the traditional law-making process.

Overall, the sketch "How a Bill Does Not Become a Law" is a direct critique of Obama's frequent usage of executive orders, suggesting that he relied on them to bypass the legislative process and enact his agenda without sufficient consideration or input from Congress.

The original song explains how a bill becomes a law

In the song, the Bill, sung by Jack Sheldon, introduces himself:

> I'm just a bill, yes, I'm only a bill, and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. I'm just a bill, yes, I'm only a bill, and I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. But I know I'll be a law someday, at least I hope and pray that I will, but today I am still just a bill.

The Bill then goes on to explain the process of becoming a law:

> Well, first I'm drawn up by a congressman, and then I'm taken to the Capitol Hill. And after that, I'm sent to committee, where I'm either shelved or sent to the House of Reps for a vote. And if I pass by a simple majority, then it's off to the Senate I go. Now, I've got to pass the Senate by a majority vote, and then it's off to the President's desk I go.

The Bill expresses his hope of becoming a law, but also acknowledges the possibility of setbacks:

> I hope I don't get vetoed, or sent back with amendments, or left to die in committee. But I'll keep on trying, and if I do become a law, you can bet it will be a good one.

The song provides a simplified and memorable explanation of the legislative process, helping children understand how a bill becomes a law in the United States.

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