1. Idea is Developed. The first step occurs when someone develops an idea that they would like to see become a law.
2. Bill is Drafted. After the idea is developed, the bill is drafted.
3. Bill is Introduced. Anyone may draft a bill, however, only members of the legislature may introduce the bill. A bill is introduced by its sponsor.
4. Bill is Numbered, Referred to a Committee and Printed. The official legislative process begins when a bill is numbered, referred to a committee, and printed. Bills are referred to standing committees in the House of Representatives or Senate according to the nature of the bill.
5. Committee Action. When a bill reaches a committee it is placed on the committee’s calendar. A bill can be referred to a subcommittee or considered by the committee as a whole. It is at this point that the bill is examined carefully and its chances for passage are determined. If the committee does not act on a bill, the committee kills the bill.
6. Subcommittee Review. Often bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch of government, experts, other public officials, supporters and opponents of the legislation.
7. Mark Up. When the hearings are completed, the subcommittee may meet to “mark up” the bill. “Mark up” means to amend the bill prior to recommending the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report legislation to the full committee, the bill dies.
8. Committee Action to Report a Bill. After receiving a subcommittee’s report on a bill, the full committee can conduct further study and hearings, or it can vote on the subcommittee’s recommendations and any proposed amendments. The full committee then votes on its recommendation to the House of Representatives or Senate.
9. Schedule Floor Action. After a bill is reported back to the chamber where it originated, it is placed in chronological order on the calendar.
10. Debate. When a bill reaches the floor the House of Representatives or Senate, there are rules and procedures governing the debate on legislation.
11. Voting. After the debate, and the approval of any amendments, the bill is passed or defeated by the members voting.
12. Referral to the Other Chamber. When a bill is passed by the House of Representatives or Senate, it is referred to the other chamber where it usually follows the same route through committee and floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.
13. Conference Committee Action. If the second chamber significantly alters the bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences between the House of Representatives and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is reached, a conference report is prepared describing the committee members’ recommendations for changes. Both the House of Representatives and Senate must approve the conference report.
14. Final Action. After a bill has been approved by both the House of Representatives and Senate, in identical form, it is sent to the Governor. If the Governor approves the legislation, the Governor signs it and it becomes law. Or, if the Governor takes no action for ten days, it automatically becomes law. If the President opposed the bill, he can veto it.
15. Overriding a Veto. If the Governor vetoes a bill, the legislature may attempt to override the veto. This requires a two-thirds vote of the members of the legislature.

Grade Level: Appropriate for grades 7 & 8.

Goal: The purpose of this activity package is to provide activities that will encourage students to understand how our government introduces, passes laws, and makes policy decisions and, also, to develop in them an increased awareness of the issues affecting their lives and how they can provide input into the American political process. As the people of the United States face some very difficult decisions ahead of them, youth leaders can use this activity package to stimulate interest and recognition of issues that are shared by all Americans, thus, helping our youth realize that they can make a difference in federal policy.

Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. Identify the steps by which a bill becomes federal law in the United States.
2. Explain the roles and objectives of a congressional lobbyist.
3. Identify at least three issues affecting America today and explain the problems or conflicts that make them issues.
4. Identify the U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators.
5. Identify at least three local government officials.
6. Identify at least three national or local special interest groups.

Materials: Social Studies text, Guest Speakers.

Procedure:

1. Invite a town councilperson to speak to your class. Ask your visitor to describe how a bill or some piece of legislation is handled at the local level.
2. Have the students use their social studies text and/or other reference materials to discover how our bicameral (two house) legislation came about.
3. Have the students use their social studies text and/or other reference materials to discover and chart the steps by which a bill becomes federal law in the United States.
4. Invite a state congressperson to speak to your class. Ask your visitor to describe a particular piece of legislation, how it was started, how it fared on floor debate, whether it passed and what its effects are likely to be.
5. In relation to activity #1, try to arrange a field trip to observe your local city government at work on some important issue. If at all possible, see if some people from the government would be willing to participate in a question and answer period following the session.
6. Have students examine recent issues of newspapers and magazines as well as radio and television broadcasts to determine what local and national issues are currently attracting attention and debate. Encourage students to find out what the issues are, who is opposed and for different solutions. As an end to this activity, have the students clip relevant newspaper stories, editorials and letters to the editor, also have them write down any pertinent information from the radio and television, then choose two sides and debate the issues.
7. Invite a guest speaker from a special interest group to talk to your class about their objectives. Have them explain how they present their issues to government and if they met with victory or defeat.

Tying it All Together: By involving your students in these activities, you can increase their understanding of how our government works and increase their prospects of becoming responsible, effective citizens of the United States.

Grade Level: Appropriate for grades 6 - 9.

Goal: To give students a chance to visualize the step-by-step process of how an idea becomes a law and how involved the process is.

Objectives: Students will be able to:

1. list the 14 steps of a "Bill to law"
2. explain the three actions the President may take
3. describe "override" the President's veto
4. arrange the 14 steps on a poster.

Materials: simplified list of the steps of a bill, 18" X 24" paper, ruler, glue, colored paper, markers

Procedure:

1. Have students make a list of the 14 steps.
2. Using their textbook write out the three actions the President may take and explain each.
3. Describe the term "override" orally.
4. In pairs or individually have students decide on a motif or theme for their poster. Create a poster by arranging the motif or theme to illustrate the steps of a bill to become a law.

Tying it All Together:

1. Collect and then grade completed posters. (They will need more time than one class period)
2. Make a stack of cards with one step written on each card. Give one card to 14 different students. Have students arrange themselves in the proper order.
3. Evaluate by giving students a "step" and having them give the next one.