I'm Just a Bill

Brian Tracy

​It doesn't matter where you are coming from. All that matters is where you are going"

The Legislative Process

• Both House and Senate introduce bills

• Request is placed in the "hopper"
  Bills may be public or private

• Rider- a provision that bears little relationship to the bill's main topic

​​Introducing Bills

• joint resolution- a congressional measure used in certain out-of-the-ordinary circumstances and has the force of law if passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the president

• concurrent resolutions- both houses of Congress address matters that affect the operations of both chambers or express an opinion

​​Other Types of Action

​Bills
in
Congress

​1. Introduced
2. Referral to a committee
3. Committee and Sub-committee
hearings
4. Report on Bill to Full Committee
- can be in favor or not
5. Mark-Up
6. Rules Committee
7. Conference in Full House
8. President: signs or veto's
9. Printed Law
10. Regulatory Activity

​Look over the Political cartoon on on 154.
What is the message?
How is the message conveyed?

Look over page 154, The Conference Committee. What happens to bills that go to a conference committee?

Create your own Political Cartoon to show your opinion on Pork-Barrel Spending

Pork-Barrel Spending