Unit 12 Law-making Process in the usa

Before you read

Answer these questions.

1 What are laws necessary for?

2 Why are new laws adopted?

Text a The Concept of Bicameral Legislature

The US Congress, the lawmaking arm of the federal government, consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Any congressman in either house, or the President, may initiate new legislation (but only the House of Representatives proposes finance bills).

The proposed legislation, or bill, is first introduced in the House of Representatives, then referred to one of the standing committees. The committee responsible for a particular bill holds hearings on it. Experts appear before the committee and offer suggestions and opinions about the bill. After the hearings, the committee reports its recommendations to the House. These recommendations may include suggested changes in the bill, or the committee may propose an entirely new one. Committee recommendations are of great importance because, when the legislators vote on a bill, they usually follow the committee report. If a committee chooses not to consider the bill, the bill dies. It is nearly impossible for a bill to reach the House or Senate floor without first winning committee approval. If the committee passes the bill, it is considered by the House of Representatives as a whole. If passed here, it goes to the Senate for a similar sequence of committee hearings and general debate.

In cases of disagreement, the House of Representatives and the Senate confer together. Once passed by the Senate as a whole, the bill has to be examined by two more standing committees – the Committee on House Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration – and is then signed by the speaker of the House and by the president of the Senate.

Finally, it must be signed by the President.

The bill becomes law following one or several steps by the President. He may approve the bill and sign it; he may sign the bill with a statement expressing his disapproval; or he may simply not sign the bill, in which case it automatically becomes law after ten days. But if the President wants to prevent the bill from becoming law, he vetoes it. But the proposal may still become law if two-thirds of each house of Congress then vote for it, thus overriding, or defeating the President’s veto. This does not happen often. The President may also use the “pocket veto” by withholding his signature within ten days of congressional adjournment.

How Congress Makes Laws

Analyse the chart and commentary to it. Then comment on it.

1. A Senator or Representative writes a bill (1)

2. The bill goes to a committee of the Senate or House

3. The full Senate or House debates the bill and can amend it.

4. The bill goes to a committee of the other house

5. The second house debates the bill (5)

6. The bill goes to the President (6)

7. Congress overrides the veto (passes the bill)

8. The bill becomes law

The committee can call public hearing (2)

It can table (postpone) the bill (3)

It can send the bill back to the full House without a recommendation (4)

It can amend (change) the bill

The Senate or House defeats the bill

The Senate or House passes the bill

The second house defeats the bill

The second house passes the bill

The President signs the bill, and it

becomes law

The President vetoes (rejects) the bill

The bill does not become law

Commentary

1. A bill concerning taxes or the budget must begin in the House of Representatives

2. There are some standing committees in the houses of Congress

3. If a committee tables a bill, Senators or Representatives can force it out of a committee with a majority vote.

4. This step often "kills" the bill.

5. If the second house of Congress amends the bill, the first house must agree to the changes.

6. If the President does nothing and Congress adjourns within ten days, the bill does not become law.