Let's Make a Law

Let's Make a Law

Federal, State, and Local

"I'm Just a Bill" - Schoolhouse Rock

Bill - a proposal for a law

Federal

How does a bill become a law at the federal level?

Step #1- it all starts with an "idea"

• Bills can be proposed in either house of Congress (the House of Representatives or the Senate)

Step #2- the bill goes to "committee"

• Bills proposed in the Senate will be sent a Senate committee to be researched

• If the bill is proposed in the House of Representatives it will be sent to a House of Representatives committee to be researched

Step #3- the bill goes to the "floor"

• Senate bills - after committee the bill goes to the Senate "floor" for introduction, debates, and approval

• House of Representative bills - after committee the bill goes to the House "floor" for introduction, debates, and approval

Step #4 - the bill goes to the other "house"

• Senate bills are sent to the House of Representatives for debate, discussion, and the vote

• House of Representatives bills are sent to the Senate for debate, discussion, and the vote

Step #5- If both houses do not agree... "conference committee"

• A group of senators and representatives meet at a conference committee to reach an agreement on the bill

• Both houses must approve the conference report

Step #5 (again)- if/when both houses do agree to the bill it goes to the President for approval

Step #6- the president is given the bill

• bill signed = LAW (called an act at the federal level)

• if the bill is not signed within 10 days the bill is given a "pocket veto" or if Congress is in session -> the bill becomes a law

• if the president VETOES the bill, Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote

Multiple Choice

A federal law is called a(n)

• Act

• Statute

• Ordinance

• Bill

Multiple Select

Bills can be proposed in

• the Senate

• the House of Representatives

• the Mall

• the Backyard

Multiple Choice

After a bill is approved in the Senate it is sent to:

• the President

• the House of Representatives

• the States

• the People

Multiple Choice

After a bill is approved in the House of Representatives it is sent to:

• the President

• the Senate

• the States

• the People

Multiple Choice

If the bill is not approved by both houses, the bill goes to:

• the President

• a Conference Committee

• Nowhere

• the People

Multiple Choice

The President has ____ days to sign the bill into a law (act).

• 10

• 50

• 435

• 2/3

Multiple Choice

The president has the ability to ____ or reject bills sent by Congress.

• Veto

• Appoint

• Confirm

Multiple Choice

If the President vetoes a bill, then Congress can override the veto with:

• a 2/3 majority vote

• a 3/4 majority vote

• nothing, Congress has to start over next year

• a popcorn party

State

How does a bill become a law at the state level?

Pretty much the EXACT same way as the Federal Level

• Bill is proposed in a chamber/house of the FL Congress

• Bill is sent to a committee and researched

• Bill is voted by the 1st chamber and then sent to the 2nd chamber of Congress

• Bill is agreed upon and then sent to the Governor to become a state law (or statute)

Only a few differences

• Governor has 7-15 days to veto the bill, if it isn't signed or vetoed it becomes a state law (statute)

• The governor can do a "line-item veto" (reject specific parts of the bill)

• State laws are called STATUTES

Local

How does a bill become a law at the local level?

Depending on how the local government is organized, lawmakers could be called:

* city commissioners,

* city council members,

* county commissioners, or

* mayors

The number of commissioners and/or council members depends on how the city or county government is organized. These local government officials pass ordinances (local laws are called ORDINANCES)

Multiple Choice

Last step in the bill -> law process at the State level

• Governor receives the bill for signing/vetoing

• Mayor receives the bill for signing/vetoing

• President receives the bill for signing/vetoing