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The Idea: Ideas for legislation 

come from many sources. A Senator 

may have an idea or even a special 

interest group or a governmental 

unit. One of his or her constituents 

may point out a need. 

     A bill is introduced to the 

legislatures by any member. Then the 

bill is introduced to one out of the two 

bicameral, having two branches of 

chambers, the House of 

representatives.

  At the House of Representatives a bill is 

introduced when a bill is placed in a hopper- a 

special box that is placed on the side of a 

clerk's desk. 

  When a bill is introduced a bill clerk assigns it 

a number. A reading clerk then reads the bill, 

and the Speaker of the House sends the bill to 

one of the House standing committees.

Census results are used to determine the 

number of congressional seats apportioned to 

each state.  

Since a Representative's or a Senator's degree 

of power and influence over the content of the 

legislation produced by the committee are very 

largely determined by seniority, members of 

the US Congress normally wish to stay on the 

same committees year after year -- at least 

after the first few years in office.

Gerrymandering is the deliberate 

rearrangement of the boundaries of 

congressional districts to influence the 

outcome of elections. Gerrymandering 

concentrates on opposition votes into a 

few districts to gain more seats for 

majority of the districts.

 The Senate floor: To consider a bill on the floor 

the senate must agree to bring it up. Senate 

rules provide no way for a simple numerical 

majority to cut off or otherwise impose a 

debate limit and move to a final vote. As a 

result, Senators can effectively wage a 

filibuster. Senate Rule, often called the cloture 

rule, does allow a super majority to limit debate 

on a bill, amendment, or motion; in 

addition,limits the amendments that can be 

offered. 

Committee Action: Before starting the debate a roll call is 

started. Majority party leaders in the House have important 

powers to effectively set the policy agenda and decide which 

proposals will receive floor consideration. In the Senate, the 

leader of the majority party is generally expected to propose 

items for consideration, but formal tools that allow a numerical 

majority to take action are few. Majority party leadership 

typically must negotiate with minority party leaders to 

effectively conduct Senate floor action. If the bill is not 

considered and by any means someone thinks the law was 

overlooked; a writ of habeas corpus can be issued by a court 

upon a government agency. Such a writ compels the agency 

to produce the bill to the court, and to convince the court that 

the law is being reasonably held.  

Floor plan: Debate

 (Voice vote): The Speaker of the House asks the 

Representatives who support the bill to say “aye”(eye) and 

those that oppose it say “no.”

(Standing vote):The Speaker of the House asks those 

Representatives who support the bill to stand up and be 

counted, and then those who oppose the bill to stand up and be 

counted.

Representatives record their vote using the electronic voting 

system. Representatives can vote yes, no, or present. If there is 

a tie between keeping or removing the bill both the House and 

the Senate will have to have a joint resolution.

Once the president receives the bill he can either:

      1. Sign the bill, making it a law.

      2. If Congress adjourns before the 10 days and the 

President has not signed the bill then it does not 

become law ("Pocket Veto")

     3. If the President vetoes the bill it is sent back to 

Congress with a note listing his reasons. The chamber 

that originated the legislation can attempt to override 

the veto by a vote of two-thirds of those present. If the 

veto of the bill is overridden in both chambers then it 

becomes law.

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