How a Bill Becomes a Law may appear to be a fairly straightforward and not all that complex a process if you simply review a typical diagram provided in most textbooks. However, at every step in the process from a bill’s introduction to the options available to the President if that bill passes both chambers and makes its way to the White House, there is the very real possibility of a bill being revised or killed by leadership, committee and subcommittee chairs, influence of lobbyists, the White House and other powerful influences. Indeed, of the thousands of bills introduced in each chamber in a two-year term, less than ten percent even make it to the floor of even one chamber for a vote and less than one percent reach the White House.
Activity:
(1) Develop a diagram or bullet list for the House of Representatives and one for the Senate showing how a bill may become a law and (2) in brief paragraphs at each step in the process explain how a bill may be allowed to move forward or be killed.
