After not giving much thought about the process of a bill becoming a federal law it was shockingly interesting. In this week’s reflection we will be observing this process. Sharing the similarities and the differences between the website and the class reading. As well as, covering a few details learned regarding the passing of a federal law. This is very important when arguing a bill into legislation. My bill calls for a large sum of $50,000,000.00 a year for five years. This can easily be vetoed simply because we are currently in a deficit.
First interesting find is the bill must go through both Senate and the House of Representatives. According to the website, both must agree on the same bill in the same form. And this must be done before the bill is presented to the president. Moving on, the different approaches each side took was quite interesting (www.congress.gov/legislative-process). The House of Representatives was said to use the numerical majority establishing a quicker process (www.congress.gov/legislative-process). Where the Senate focused more on deliberation than they did fast action. Finally, learning the process does not always follow the same process and can vary. In comparison to the book the Congress website video made the process seem easy to follow. But the book presented much more detail into explaining the bill to law process. The video spoke of committees and how they receive numerous bills that come in at a high rate. The chair decides what bills are going to receive the committee’s attention and starts the process like having a hearing and so on. Whereas the book explains the process but goes into more detail in regard to various committees. As well as, the different roles they may play in processes a bill.
Amendment Exchange
Moreover, when a bill is sent to the other chambers and cannot be agreed upon it is redone by the proposing side. This may be a small and significant change in the bill. Then it is resubmitted for further review. This can go back and forth for quite some time. Therefore, committees in the both the Senate and the House of Representatives are formed. These committees can focus on one specific bill freeing up time within its own chambers (www.congress.gov/legislative-process). In the readings, it speaks of lobbyists and how they work to convince politicians of their point (Karger, Stoezs, p 174). The book describes specific committees such as Political Action Committees (PACs). Which is a committee created to divert campaign funds to candidates for elected office, according to the readings (Karger, Stoezs, p 174).
Discussion
Many, including myself, are not familiar with exactly how politics work. After reviewing the website and the class textbook the bill process is understood. I also understand that depending on the bill this process can vary. Although as complicated as it may seem these laws effect the people of entire states. Therefore, these laws need special consideration while keeping the people’s best interest in mind. The videos on the congress.gov gave a quick and easy way to understand the process. Then the readings offered examples of the bills processed in the past complete with results. Results, as in, the outcome of laws passed and bills that did not pass. This approach helps those new to politics understand the importance of the legislative process. This week’s news in Texas is a governor apologizing for requesting supporters to defend against immigrants. The next day a gunman shot and killed 22 Mexicans in El Paso. Whether this is related or not it came off as racist. Now Governor Greg Abbott is rethinking his approach in his letter sent to lawmakers. This letter was to fight against illegal immigrants (2019, http://www.cbsnews.com).
October 7, 2019
References
Karger, H. J., & Stoesz, D. (2018). American social welfare policy: a pluralist approach . NY,
NY: Pearson.
Miller, M. (2019, September 30). Key Republican lawmaker introduces legislation to defend state,
local governments against cyberattacks. Retrieved from
https://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/459473-key-republican-lawmaker-introduces-
legislation-to-defend-state-local
(n.d.) (2019, September 30). Retrieved from https://http://www.congress.gov/legislative-process
Social Work 