Keith Mack
The Simpsons has made several references to the process of how a bill becomes a law in Congress. In the episode Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington, the Simpsons' home becomes uninhabitable due to airplane noise, and Krusty the Clown is elected to Congress to address the issue. With the help of Walter Mondale, who is working as a janitor in Congress, Krusty and the Simpsons learn how to get a bill passed. They blackmail a congressman, get another drunk, and attach their airplane noise bill as a rider on a Flags for Orphans bill. In another episode, The Day the Violence Died, Bart discovers that an old man named Chester Lampwick is the real creator of the Itchy and Scratchy cartoon series, starting a courtroom copyright battle. The show within a show is replaced by a cartoon called Amendment To Be, which parodies the famous I'm Just a Bill from Schoolhouse Rock! and depicts a constitutional amendment's attempt to ban flag burning.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Episode | Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington |
| Season | 14 |
| Episode Number | 14 |
| Air Date | 9th March 2003 |
| Writer | John Swartzwelder |
| Director | Lance Kramer |
| Viewership | 14.43 million |
What You'll Learn
The Amendment Song
> Hey, who left all this garbage lying on the steps of Congress?
> I'm an Amendment-to-Be,
> Yes, an Amendment-to-Be,
> And I'm hopin' that they'll ratify me.
> There's a lot of flag burners
> Who have got too much freedom,
> I wanna make it legal
> For policemen to beat 'em.
> 'Cos there's limits to our liberties,
> Least I hope and pray that there are,
> 'Cos those liberal freaks go too far.
> But why can't we just make a law against flag burning?
> Because that law would be unconstitutional.
> But if we changed the Constitution...
> Then we could make all sorts of crazy laws!
> Now you're catching on!
> But what if they say you're not good enough to be in the Constitution?
> Then I'll crush all opposition to me
> And I'll make Ted Kennedy pay
> I'll say that he's gay
> Good news, Amendment! They ratified 'ya. You're in the U.S. Constitution!
In the episode, the Simpsons also learn about the process of how a bill becomes a law in Congress. They are taught by the Capitol's janitor, Walter Mondale, who explains that they need to blackmail a congressman and get another drunk. They then fix the Air Traffic Bill with a paperclip to another bill giving orphans American flags. When the bill comes up for a vote, both the blackmailed congressman and the drunk one consent, and it is passed.
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The Bill of Rights
The Simpsons has made several references to the Bill of Rights in its show. In the 1999 episode "Make Room for Lisa", Homer Simpson encounters a travelling Smithsonian exhibit featuring the Bill of Rights, the Liberty Bell, and other items. In this episode, Lisa explains the Bill of Rights to Homer, stating that it "guarantees all of the basic freedoms—speech, religion, the right to a speedy trial".
In another episode, "Bart-Mangled Banner", Bart accidentally "moons" the American flag at a school event, causing national outrage. Lisa speaks about the First Amendment, stating:
> "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. That's from the First Amendment to the Constitution."
In the episode "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington", Krusty the Clown is elected to Congress and eventually has a bill passed to change the flight path of planes, which had previously flown directly over the Simpsons' house.
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The First Amendment
In the 2004 episode "Bart-Mangled Banner", Bart accidentally "moons" the American flag at a school event, causing national outrage. The family is ostracized locally and nationally. At church, Lisa speaks about the First Amendment, after Bart is told to keep quiet. She says:
> "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech or of the press. That's from the First Amendment to the Constitution."
However, a SWAT team arrests the family for violating the fictional "Government Knows Best Act". The family is later shown watching a cartoon about the Constitution that portrays the "Bill O'Rights" as its "crazy drunken cousin". The family eventually escapes to France but returns to the United States as undocumented immigrants.
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Article I: Congress
Article I of the United States Constitution establishes the powers of Congress, the legislative branch of the federal government. It consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
The 2003 episode "Mr. Spritz Goes to Washington" is a parody of the film "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington". In the episode, the Simpsons' home becomes uninhabitable due to airplane noise from a redirected flight path to Springfield International Airport. The Simpsons' congressman, Horace Wilcox, is eager to help but suffers a heart attack and dies. Bart then asks Krusty the Clown to run for Congress, and he is adopted as the Republican candidate. With the help of Lisa and a Fox News programme, Krusty is elected.
Once in Congress, Krusty is appointed to useless committees and given menial tasks. He, along with the Simpsons, are about to give up when Walter Mondale, a janitor in Congress, explains how a bill becomes a law. With Mondale's help, Bart blackmails a congressman, and Homer gets another congressman drunk. During a session in Congress, Mondale and Lisa, with Homer's drunken diversion, attach their Air Traffic Bill to another bill giving orphans American flags. When the bill comes up for a vote, both the blackmailed and drunk congressmen consent, and it is passed.
Article I, Section 1, of the United States Constitution provides that:
> All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.
The Senate is composed of 100 Members, two from each state, elected by the people. A Senator must be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for nine years, and be an inhabitant of the state for which they are chosen. The term of office is six years, with one-third of the Senate elected every second year.
The House of Representatives is composed of 435 Members elected every two years from among the 50 states, apportioned according to their total populations. A Representative must be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen of the United States for seven years, and be an inhabitant of the state in which they are chosen. Each Representative has one vote.
The chief function of Congress is the making of laws. The Senate also has the function of advising and consenting to treaties and certain presidential nominations.
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The 18th and 21st Amendments
In reality, the 18th Amendment, ratified in 1919, was the result of organised efforts by the temperance movement and the Anti-Saloon League, which linked alcohol to society's ills, including immorality, criminality, and unpatriotic citizenship during World War I. The amendment was passed by Congress in 1917 and ratified by the necessary three-quarters of states in 1919. The National Prohibition Act, also known as the Volstead Act, provided for its enforcement.
The 18th Amendment was highly unpopular, and the rise of organised crime and gangsters such as Al Capone, along with widespread public disregard for the law, led to a movement to repeal it. The 21st Amendment, which repealed the 18th, was proposed by Congress and ratified by the required number of states on the same day: December 5, 1933. It is unique among the US Constitution's amendments for being the only one to repeal a previous amendment and for being ratified by state ratifying conventions.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill is introduced and assigned to a committee, which studies the issue and may hold hearings. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on. If it passes, it goes to the other chamber of Congress, which follows a similar process. If it passes there, it goes to the President, who can sign or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can override with a 2/3 vote.
Yes, in the episode 'The Krusty Krazy Klatche Act', the process is somewhat simplified and comedic. The bill is introduced by Springfield's representative, Bob Roberts, and it appears the bill only needs the support of one committee member, Mr. Burns, to pass.
The bill, which was designed to help the rich and powerful, passed with ease. It was then celebrated by the wealthy at a party, where they laughed at how easy it was to manipulate the system and get their way.
No, the episode is a satire and greatly simplifies the process for comedic effect. In reality, the law-making process is more complex and involves more steps, debate, and compromise.
