Understanding The Legislative Process: Bills To Laws

Teaching students about how a bill becomes a law is a crucial aspect of civics and government education. While the legislative process can be complex and lengthy, it is essential for students to understand how laws are created and enacted. This lesson plan aims to provide an engaging and interactive approach to teaching students about the journey of a bill, from its initial proposal to its potential enactment as a law. By exploring the various steps, stakeholders, and decision-making processes involved, students will gain a deeper understanding of the legislative branch and its role in shaping the laws that govern their lives.

The Bill Is Proposed

The first step in turning a bill into a law is for a Representative to write the bill. This can be done by a Representative or citizen. Citizens with ideas for laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If the Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. Once a Representative has written a bill, the bill needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill to get their support. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the Representatives, it is ready to be introduced.

Lesson Plan

Lesson Objective: Students will learn about the first steps in turning a bill into a law, including the roles of Representatives and citizens, and the process of finding a sponsor and introducing a bill.

Materials:

• Textbook or lecture notes on the legislative process
• Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution
• Visual examples, such as photos or videos of Congress in action
• Clip art or icons representing each step of the legislative process
• Sorting cards or slips with images and text of the steps

Procedure:

• Introduce the topic of how a bill becomes a law, providing a lecture, textbook reading, or video.
• Give students the text of Article I, Section 7, where the basic process is outlined.
• Provide visual examples, such as photos or videos of Congress in action, to illustrate the legislative process.
• Include clip art or icons on lecture notes to reinforce each step of the process, especially for ELL students.
• Practice sorting the order of the legislative process with a card activity or half-sheet versions for students to organize themselves into a human timeline.
• Discuss the role of Representatives and citizens in the bill-writing process, and the importance of gaining support and finding a sponsor.
• Assign students to research and present on a specific bill, including the steps it went through and the impact it had on the law.

The Bill Is Introduced

The first step in the legislative process is the introduction of a bill. A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, be proposed during their election campaign, or be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups. Once a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks to other Representatives to get their support. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the Representatives, it is ready to be introduced.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it is placed in the hopper—a wooden box on the side of the clerk's desk in the House Chamber. The sponsor's signature must appear on the bill. A public bill may have an unlimited number of co-sponsoring members. A bill is assigned its legislative number by the Clerk and referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker, with the assistance of the Parliamentarian. The bill is then printed in its introduced form.

Upon introduction, the bill will receive a designation based on the chamber of introduction, for example, H.R. or H.J.Res. for House-originated bills or joint resolutions and S. or S.J.Res. for Senate-originated measures. It will also receive a number, which is typically the next number available in sequence during that two-year Congress.

In the Senate, the bill is submitted to clerks on the Senate floor. Only members of each chamber may introduce legislation, though occasionally a member introduces legislation at the request of the President. Members and their staff typically consult with nonpartisan attorneys in each chamber’s Legislative Counsel office for assistance in putting policy proposals into legislative language. Members may circulate the bill and ask others in the chamber to sign on as original co-sponsors of a bill to demonstrate a solid base of support for the idea.

The Bill Goes to Committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is sent to a committee. This is a group of Representatives who are experts on the topic of the bill. For example, a bill about education would be sent to a committee of Representatives who are knowledgeable about education. The committee members review, research, and revise the bill. They may also send the bill to a subcommittee, which is a group of experts who will examine the bill in more detail and gather opinions from other experts.

The committee will then vote on whether to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee approves the bill, it is sent back to the House of Representatives, where it can be debated and amended. This is an important step, as it allows Representatives to discuss the bill and suggest changes. Once all the changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on by the House of Representatives.

The committee stage is crucial in the legislative process, as it allows for a detailed examination and revision of the bill before it is voted on. It also provides an opportunity for experts to share their opinions and for any necessary amendments to be made. This helps to ensure that the bill is well-considered and has the best chance of becoming a law.

The committee's decision to approve or reject a bill can have a significant impact on its chances of becoming a law. If a bill is rejected by the committee, it may still be possible for it to be brought back for consideration, but this can be a challenging process. On the other hand, a bill that is approved by the committee is more likely to gain support and move forward in the legislative process.

The Bill Is Reported

The "Bill Is Reported" stage is a crucial step in the legislative process, where the bill transitions from committee review to the House floor for debate and voting. This stage marks the culmination of the committee's work and sets the stage for the full House's engagement with the proposed legislation. Here's a detailed breakdown of this stage:

Committee Approval and Reporting

When a bill reaches a committee, it undergoes a rigorous process of review, research, and revision. Committee members, who are experts in their respective fields, carefully examine the bill. They may seek additional information by sending it to a subcommittee or gathering expert opinions. Once the committee is satisfied, they vote on whether to approve the bill. If the bill receives the committee's approval, it is then sent, or reported, to the House floor. This reporting action signifies that the committee has completed its work and is presenting the bill to the full House for further consideration.

Floor Debate and Amendment

Once a bill is reported to the House floor, it is ready to be debated by the Representatives. During this stage, Representatives engage in discussions, expressing their support or opposition to the bill. They provide justifications for their positions, highlighting the bill's potential benefits or drawbacks. Following the initial debate, a reading clerk reads the bill section by section, ensuring that all Representatives are familiar with its contents. At this point, Representatives can also recommend changes or amendments to the bill. This collaborative process allows for a thorough examination of the bill and enables Representatives to shape the legislation according to their insights and the needs of their constituents.

Preparation for Voting

After the debate and amendment process, the bill undergoes final revisions to incorporate any agreed-upon changes. This step ensures that the bill is in its most refined form before the House proceeds to vote on it. It is crucial for the Representatives to carefully consider and refine the bill before voting, as their decisions will directly impact the lives of the citizens they represent.

Next Steps: Voting and Certification

Once the bill is fully debated, amended, and prepared, the House proceeds to vote on it. The voting process can be conducted through different methods, including voice vote, division, or recorded electronic voting. If the bill secures a majority vote, it passes in the House and is certified by the Clerk of the House. Subsequently, the bill is delivered to the U.S. Senate, where it undergoes a similar process of committee review, floor debate, and voting.

The Bill Is Voted On

Once a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee, it will be put before the chamber to be voted on. In the US House of Representatives, there are three methods of voting on a bill: viva voce, division, and recorded. In a viva voce vote, the Speaker of the House asks supporters of the bill to say "aye" and opponents to say "no". In a division vote, the Speaker asks supporters to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for the opponents. In a recorded vote, Representatives use an electronic voting system to record their votes as yes, no, or present. A simple majority is required for a bill to pass in the House of Representatives (218 out of 435).

If the bill passes in the House, it will then move to the Senate, where it will be assigned to another committee and, if released, debated and voted on. Senators vote by voice, saying "yea" if they support the bill and "nay" if they oppose it. A simple majority (51 out of 100) is required for a bill to pass in the Senate.

After a bill has passed in both chambers of Congress, they must work out any differences between the two versions of the bill. A conference committee made of House and Senate members is responsible for doing this. The resulting bill then returns to the House and Senate for final approval.

Frequently asked questions