Congress Learning Module:
The Dynamic Legislative Process
The Full Legislative Process
House of Representatives
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There are 60 Subcommittees in the House and the Senate together. 1 in 6 Bills pass the committee. They debate the bill, may make amendments, and then vote for passage. It is in these steps that life for a bill may be complicated. It may go back and forth between the chambers before a compromise is reached. Most of the time, the President approves of bills that make it this far, but if he does not, he can veto the bill (killing it). Since he must approve it for it to move on, Congress takes his position into consideration throughout the process. If the do not, it is basically a waste of time. UNLESS, Congress can achieve a 2/3 vote to override his veto. |
Senate
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It is much more than just this though. There are obstacles, strategies, hard work, and defeats/victories that go on that are not shown in this basic chart. For instance, one of the most difficult parts is just getting the bill past the Committee stage. They must talk thoroughly about the bill and the chances it has at becoming a law. They talk with their colleagues and leaders to determine whether the bill is worth passing along to the next stage. They also consider the opposition and how they might try to amend the bill. They must be ready to debate every line in the bill. Counting votes determines whether there will be enough for adequate support. Public support can be vital as well. Media attention and help from Interest Groups fall under this category. This is only at committee. Much more happens at each step as the bill gets closer to becoming a law. Majority support is needed at each obstacle in order for the bill to proceed. If a bill is substantial or controversial, it may skip steps in order to be passed more quickly. Instead of going to Committee, it may be brought up as a (unrelated) amendment on another that bill that just so happens to already be on the floor. It could be brought to the floor by a leader as well. It may be developed by a special task force, brought to the floor by a petition, added by the leadership to a bill that had already passed committee, included in a omnibus bill (a bill made up of many unrelated provisions), tacked onto something that must be passed, or inserted as a provision in a bill at the House-Senate Compromise level. (see picture below) Most bills are passed now in this "unconventional" way. It is called unorthodox legislature. There occurs a loss of transparency, deliberation, and responsibility.
Criticisms:
Some think "slow, ponderous, multi-stage deliberations" are a fault.
The Framers said: It is supposed to be deliberate. This creates laws that are more lasting and better for the public. It eliminates rash and emotionally-charged, immature ideas in bills. They can't pass in the heat of the moment.
Some think all of the bickering is messing up and polarizing the process.
The Framers said: Conflict is necessary to create balance. It is the personification of opinions and avoids a concentration of power. Intense political differences exist and it is important that these REPRESENTATIVES fight for their, and their constituent's, beliefs.
Some are afraid all of the "compromising" is indicative of their representatives selling out on their beliefs.
The Framers said: So many views of so many types of citizens are represented, it would be impossible to get anything done without compromise.
Some, actually many, think special interests are a problem.
The Framers said: They help give voices to the voiceless, but sometimes they agree that interests can become a problem.
Some don't like it when something the majority wants takes a while to get passed.
The Framers said: Majority Rules. Modern Democracy however, says that we must protect the minority's rights as well. The framers agreed that the majority should not be able to abuse it's power.
Some think "slow, ponderous, multi-stage deliberations" are a fault.
The Framers said: It is supposed to be deliberate. This creates laws that are more lasting and better for the public. It eliminates rash and emotionally-charged, immature ideas in bills. They can't pass in the heat of the moment.
Some think all of the bickering is messing up and polarizing the process.
The Framers said: Conflict is necessary to create balance. It is the personification of opinions and avoids a concentration of power. Intense political differences exist and it is important that these REPRESENTATIVES fight for their, and their constituent's, beliefs.
Some are afraid all of the "compromising" is indicative of their representatives selling out on their beliefs.
The Framers said: So many views of so many types of citizens are represented, it would be impossible to get anything done without compromise.
Some, actually many, think special interests are a problem.
The Framers said: They help give voices to the voiceless, but sometimes they agree that interests can become a problem.
Some don't like it when something the majority wants takes a while to get passed.
The Framers said: Majority Rules. Modern Democracy however, says that we must protect the minority's rights as well. The framers agreed that the majority should not be able to abuse it's power.
- Less than 10% of introduced bills actually become laws.
- Only Senators and Representatives can introduce laws.
- Most of the work/changes that occurs on bills happen in the committees.
- The House and the Senate have and equal role in the legislative process.
- The conventional lawmaking process involves several stages of review and it is common for them to go through each stage several times.
- Drafted and sent for ratification the Bill of Rights.
- Provided funding for Westward Expansion.