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'''VI.  How Laws are Made'''

'''VI.  How Laws are Made'''

The basic process for passing federal law is as follows: A committee in the House of Representatives drafts a new statute.  If the committee approves the bill, then it is sent to the House Rules Committee, which will dictate the rules for debate and amendment by the full House prior to a vote.  If it ultimately passes the full House, it then proceeds to a committee in the Senate, which may revise it before approving or rejecting it.  If the Senate committee approves it, perhaps in revised form, then it goes to the full Senate for passage.  Amendments may be proposed by any senator, and any senator may try to block by a vote by arguing indefinitely (this is known as a filibuster).  In the Senate, 60 votes are necessary to end a filibuster and force a final vote.   

The basic process for passing federal [[law]] is as follows: A committee in the [[House of Representatives]] drafts a new statute.  If the committee approves the [[bill]], then it is sent to the [[House Rules Committee]], which will dictate the rules for debate and amendment by the full House prior to a vote.  If it ultimately passes the full House, it then proceeds to a committee in the [[Senate]], which may revise it before approving or rejecting it.  If the [[Senate]] committee approves it, perhaps in revised form, then it goes to the full [[Senate]] for passage.  [[Amendment]]s may be proposed by any [[senator]], and any [[senator]] may try to block by a [[vote]] by arguing indefinitely (this is known as a [[filibuster]]).  In the [[Senate]], 60 votes are necessary to end a [[filibuster]] and force a final vote.   

If it passes the Senate, then it is compared to the House version.  If they were identical, then it proceeds directly to the president for approval or rejection.  But if the House and Senate versions are different, then it must go to a specially appointed joint committee representing both chambers. They attempt to resolve the differences and present an identical version for new approval by the House and Senate.  If the revised version is approved by both the House and Senate, it then goes to the president.

If it passes the [[Senate]], then it is compared to the House version.  If they were identical, then it proceeds directly to the [[president]] for approval or rejection.  But if the House and [[Senate]] versions are different, then it must go to a specially appointed joint committee representing both chambers. They attempt to resolve the differences and present an identical version for new approval by the House and [[Senate]].  If the revised version is approved by both the House and [[Senate]], it then goes to the [[president]].

If the president signs the bill in ten (10) days (excluding Sundays), or fails to return it without a signature and Congress is in session, then it becomes law.  If the president vetoes the bill, or fails to return it in ten (10) days (excluding Sundays) and Congress is no longer in session (the “pocket veto”), then it does not become law.  (A famous example of the pocket veto was President Lincoln’s refusal to sign his own Party’s Wade-Davis Bill in 1864, which would have imposed harsh penalties on Confederate officials.)  Congress may attempt to override any type of veto, but it needs 2/3 approval in both the House and Senate to do so.  See Article I, Section 7, clause 2 (p. 320).

If the [[president]] signs the [[bill]] in ten (10) days (excluding [[Sunday]]s), or fails to return it without a signature and [[Congress]] is in session, then it becomes law.  If the president [[veto]]es the [[bill]], or fails to return it in ten (10) days (excluding [[Sunday]]s) and [[Congress]] is no longer in session (the “[[pocket veto]]”), then it does not become law.  (A famous example of the pocket veto was President [[Lincoln]]’s refusal to sign his own Party’s Wade-Davis Bill in 1864, which would have imposed harsh penalties on [[Confederate]] officials.)  [[Congress]] may attempt to override any type of [[veto]], but it needs 2/3 approval in both the House and [[Senate]] to do so.  See Article I, Section 7, clause 2 (p. 320).

Overrides of vetoes were very rare prior to President Andrew Johnson.  Only three presidents have been overridden ten or more times: Presidents Andrew Johnson, Harry Truman and Gerald Ford.  The reason is simple: each faced a Congress that was dominated by the opposing political party.  Republican President Reagan vetoed 78 bills of Congress, but was only overridden nine times.  That is remarkable given his principled positions and the overwhelming Democratic control of the House of Representatives during his presidency.

Overrides of [[veto]]es were very rare prior to President [[Andrew Johnson]].  Only three presidents have been overridden ten or more times: Presidents [[Andrew Johnson]], [[Harry Truman]] and [[Gerald Ford]].  The reason is simple: each faced a [[Congress]] that was dominated by the opposing political party.  [[Republican]] President [[Reagan]] vetoed 78 bills of [[Congress]], but was only overridden nine times.  That is remarkable given his principled positions and the overwhelming [[Democrat]]ic control of the [[House of Representatives]] during his presidency.

The Republican-controlled House voted to override President Clinton’s veto of the ban on partial-birth abortion, but the Senate lacked the 2/3rd majority required.  It was not until President Bush was elected in 2000 and the Republicans captured the Senate in 2002 that now it appears this bill will be enacted into law.  With Bush agreeing to sign the bill, only a majority (rather than 2/3rd) vote is necessary in Congress to enact it.

The [[Republican]]-controlled House voted to override President [[Clinton]]’s [[veto]] of the ban on [[partial-birth abortion]], but the [[Senate]] lacked the 2/3rd majority required.  It was not until [[President Bush]] was elected in 2000 and the [[Republican]]s captured the [[Senate]] in 2002 that now it appears this [[bill]] will be enacted into law.  With Bush agreeing to sign the bill, only a majority (rather than 2/3rd) vote is necessary in [[Congress]] to enact it.

'''VII.  Elections – The Three-Way Race.'''

'''VII.  Elections – The Three-Way Race.'''