course of action, when writing a bill for congress

by Westley Breitenberg 6 min read

What are the steps of a bill as it moves through Congress?

Steps
  • Step 1: The bill is drafted. ...
  • Step 2: The bill is introduced. ...
  • Step 3: The bill goes to committee. ...
  • Step 4: Subcommittee review of the bill. ...
  • Step 5: Committee mark up of the bill. ...
  • Step 6: Voting by the full chamber on the bill. ...
  • Step 7: Referral of the bill to the other chamber. ...
  • Step 8: The bill goes to the president.
May 5, 2020

What are the 4 main steps in the process of a bill becoming a law in GA?

The Life of a Law
  • Step 1: Drafting the Idea. The first step can start with you. ...
  • Step 2: Georgia General Assembly. ...
  • Step 3: Georgia State Legislative Session. ...
  • Step 4: Third Reading. ...
  • Step 5: The Vote. ...
  • Step 6: The Governor's Role. ...
  • Step 7: The Bill Becomes a Law.

How is a bill put into action?

Most bills require a majority vote (it must pass by 21 votes in the Senate and 41 votes in the Assembly), while urgency measures and appropriation bills require a two-thirds vote (27 in the Senate, 54 in the Assembly).

How do you introduce a bill to Congress?

A bill can be introduced in either chamber of Congress by a senator or representative who sponsors it. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.Apr 6, 2022

Which is the proper order of a bill becoming a law after it is introduced in the Senate quizlet?

What is the order of a bill becoming law after it is introduced in the Senate? committee, debate, Senate approval, House approval, presidential action.

What are the 4 major things that the executive branch does?

The executive branch is headed by the president, whose constitutional responsibilities include serving as commander in chief of the armed forces; negotiating treaties; appointing federal judges (including the members of the Supreme Court), ambassadors, and cabinet officials; and acting as head of state.

Which branch writes clauses for the bill?

ArtI. S7. C1. 1.1 Origination Clause

All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with Amendments as on other Bills.

Does a bill go to the House or Senate first?

First, a representative sponsors a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated or amended. If the bill passes by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate.

How and when bills reach the floor of the House is decided by the?

The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader decide what will reach the floor and when. (Legislation can also be brought to the floor by a discharge petition.) Senate: Legislation is placed on the Legislative Calendar.

How is a bill introduced in the House and Senate?

In the House, a bill is introduced when it is dropped in the hopper (a wooden box on the House floor). In the Senate, the bill is submitted to clerks on the Senate floor. Upon introduction, the bill will receive a designation based on the chamber of introduction, for example, H.R. or H.J. Res.

How are bills sponsored?

A sponsor in the United States Congress is the first member of the House or Senate to be listed among the potentially numerous lawmakers who introduce a bill for consideration. Committees are occasionally identified as sponsors of legislation as well. A sponsor is also sometimes called a "primary sponsor."

Which chamber of Congress can introduce bills?

The main responsibility of Congress is to ensure that our nation has the laws and regulations that we need to succeed. To do this, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives propose ideas, called bills, that they hope will one day become law.

What is the legislative process?

The Legislative Process (House of Representatives) Learning About the Legislative Process (Senate) Kids in the House (House of Representatives) – provides educational and entertaining information about the legislative branch of the United States Government to students of all ages.

How many Federalist papers were there?

The Federalist Papers – Full Text of The Federalist, commonly referred to as the Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison between October 1787 and May 1788.

How to write a bill?

Below are simple guidelines to follow for writing a bill. 1. Select an area of interest. drugs The first step in writing your bill is to select a topic. Write a bill on an area of national politics that you know a little bit about.

What are the three types of legislation?

There are three types of legislation: A Bill, which establishes a new law; A Congressional Resolution, which expresses the sentiment of Congress; A Constitutional Amendment, which changes or adds to the U.S. Constitution. 5. Draft your bill.

What is the CRS?

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) provides members of Congress with nonpartisan research and analysis of issues. Although these reports are not directly available to the public, some members of Congress have provided access to some of these reports on their websites. 3. Select a specific subject/ problem.

How long is a debate?

2. Debate begins with a 6 minute opening speech from the sponsor of the bill, followed by a 6 minute opening speech from the main opponent of the bill (as selected by committee).

How long is the debate speech?

Debate begins with a 6 minute opening speech from the sponsor of the bill, followed by a 6 minute opening speech from the main opponent of the bill (as selected by committee). If the main speakers do not use all of his or her time, he or she may yield the remaining time to questions or to the chair. 3.

Is nuclear power safe?

Whereas: With today’s technology, nuclear power is almost completely safe .

Do you include the official number in a bill?

When writing about a particular bill or piece of legislation, include the official number so they know exactly what you're referring to ( it also helps your credibility).

How to write a letter to a political party?

Your letter will be more effective if you address a single topic or issue rather than a variety of issues you may feel passionate about. Typed, one-page letters are best. Many Political Action Committees (PACs) recommend a three-paragraph letter structured like this: 1 Say why you are writing and who you are. List your "credentials" and state that you are a constituent. It also doesn't hurt to mention if you voted for or donated to them. If you want a response, you must include your name and address, even when using email. 2 Provide more detail. Be factual and not emotional. Provide specific rather than general information about how the topic affects you and others. If a certain bill is involved, cite the correct title or number whenever possible. 3 Close by requesting the action you want to be taken. It might be a vote for or against a bill, a change in general policy, or some other action, but be specific.

How to write an anonymous letter?

Key Things to Remember 1 Be courteous and respectful without "gushing." 2 Clearly and simply state the purpose of your letter. If it's about a certain bill, identify it correctly. 3 Say who you are. Anonymous letters go nowhere. Even in email, include your correct name, address, phone number, and email address. If you don't include at least your name and address, you will not get a response. 4 State any professional credentials or personal experience you may have, especially those pertaining to the subject of your letter. 5 Keep your letter short—one page is best. 6 Use specific examples or evidence to support your position. 7 State what it is you want to be done or recommend a course of action. 8 Thank the member for taking the time to read your letter.

How effective are personal letters?

Concise, well thought out personal letters are one of the most effective ways Americans have of influencing the lawmakers they elect. Members of Congress get hundreds of letters and emails every day, so you will want your letter stand out.

How many paragraphs should a letter be?

Typed, one-page letters are best. Many Political Action Committees (PACs) recommend a three-paragraph letter structured like this:

What to include in an email?

Even in email, include your correct name, address, phone number, and email address . If you don't include at least your name and address, you will not get a response. State any professional credentials or personal experience you may have, especially those pertaining to the subject of your letter.

What does "not to do" mean?

What Not to Do. Just because they represent the voters does not mean that members of Congress are subject to abuse or belittlement. As impassioned as you may be about an issue, your letter will be more effective if it's written from a calm, logical perspective.

Who can introduce a bill?

Members of the House or Senate draft, sponsor and introduce bills for consideration by Congress. Only Members of Congress can introduce bills. After introduction, the bill is usually assigned to a Committee.

Where is the bill returned?

The bill is returned to the full House or Senate for further debate and approval. At this point members may propose amendments to the bill, add additional text, or otherwise alter the bill.

What are the powers of Congress?

leaders of Congress can reward members with good assignments or punish wayward members with bad assignments. House Rules Committee. committee that establishes how debate happens in the House. agenda setting. often a negative power because it is exercised by keeping items off the agenda. veto.

What is proposal power?

proposal power. ability of member of congress to propose a bill (which goes to a committee) Gatekeeping Authority. the power of a committee chair to choose whether or not to act on a bill. mark-up. the actual process of writing a bill; writing the bill in formal, legal language. discharge petition.

What is trustee representation?

trustee representation. a representative who acts in ways he/she thinks is in the best interest of the community as a whole (Senate, originally) sociological representation. representatives have the same racial, ethnic, gender, religious, or educational background as their constituents.

What is a political party?

political party. a group of voters/Congresspeople organized to support certain public policies. Hastert Rule. a "rule" created by Dennis Hastert where he would only bring a bill to the floor of the House for a vote if a majority of the majority party supported it.

What is case work?

case work. provides direct services to constituents; this is usually done by congressional staffers and includes things like answering questions about how to get certain government benefits. patronage. government jobs provided by congressmen to their constituents.

What is the Hastert rule?

Hastert Rule. a "rule" created by Dennis Hastert where he would only bring a bill to the floor of the House for a vote if a majority of the majority party supported it. logrolling. quid-pro-quo bargaining; the practice of exchanging favors by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation. divided government.

What is the caucus system?

caucus system (in Congress) semi-formal group of Congresspeople organized around particular identities or interests; no official function in the legislative process; allow for meeting and discussion of specific topics. Speaker of the House. -3rd most powerful person in government (behind President and VP) -Leader of the House.

image