If you could make a law about anything, what would it be and why?

What is a law?What are some laws?Why do we have these laws?Why do we have laws?How does a law start?How does it go from an idea to a law?

1. When a Representative has an idea for a new law (or an idea is brought to them by a citizen), s/he becomes the sponsor of that bill and introduces it. The clerk assigns a legislative number to the bill, with H.R. for bills introduced in the House of Representatives and S. for bills introduced in the Senate.

2. Next, the bill is assigned to a committee (the House has 22 standing committees, each with jurisdiction over bills in certain areas) by the Speaker of the House so that it can be studied.

3. If the bill is released, it then goes on a calendar (a list of bills awaiting action).

4. The bill now goes to the floor of the House for consideration and begins with a complete reading of the bill (sometimes this is the only complete reading). If the bill passes by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate.

5. In order to be introduced in the Senate, a senator must be recognized as the presiding officer and announce the introduction of the bill.

5. In order to be introduced in the Senate, a senator must be recognized as the presiding officer and announce the introduction of the bill. Sometimes, when a bill has passed in one house, it becomes known as an act; however, this term usually means a bill that has been passed by both houses and becomes law.

6. Just as in the House, the bill then is assigned to a committee. It is assigned to one of the Senate's 16 standing committees by the presiding officer. The Senate committee studies and either releases or tables the bill just like the House standing committee.

7. Once released, the bill goes to the Senate floor for consideration. Bills are voted on in the Senate based on the order they come from the committee; however, an urgent bill may be pushed ahead by leaders of the majority party. A simple majority (51 of 100) passes the bill.

8. The bill now moves onto a conference committee, which is made up of members from each House. The committee works out any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The revised bill is sent back to both houses for their final approval.

9. The enrolled bill is now signed by the Speaker of the House and then the vice president. Finally, it is sent for presidential consideration. The president has ten days to sign or veto the enrolled bill. If the president vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House then vote in favor of the bill.

Using your campaign character, you will be writing a 2 page story about a bill becoming a law. You need to come up with an original idea for a bill (make sure you title it- H.R.___ or S.___), a main character, and include the 9 steps of a bill becoming a law.

It should have an introduction (which includes the initial idea), a 5+ sentence paragraph for each step, and a conclusion. That is a total of 11 paragraphs.

Example! Step 1- Go through the 9 steps in your notes and write a one

sentence summary of the step involving your character. After it has been checked, you need to get a computer and start

writing your paragraphs. Remember you are telling a story, so tell a good one.

Start it with Once upon a time, or something like that. Title it and make sure you write it as a story.

Introduction- A citizen has an idea for a new law that would require each city to have a clown that dances in your driveway each morning.

Step #1- The citizen sends a letter to Rep. Scary Gary and he decides it is something that he wants to sponsor. He then writes it into a bill which is titled HR 345.

Step #2- The bill is then sent to the Circus Committee for discussion and revision.

Step #3- After it is released it goes on the calendar in order to be voted on later.Step #4- Scary Gary then reads it to the House of Reps. And is voted on, it

passes with a majority vote.Step #5- Scary Gary passes it off to his old Senator pal Crazy Carl to be

introduced in the Senate.Step #6- Crazy Carl then takes it to the Senate and it is assigned to the Juggling

Committee to be discussed and revised.Step #7- After it is released it is sent to the Senate floor for consideration, it is

voted on and passed with a majority vote.Step #8- The bill now moves on to a conference committee to iron out any

differences between the House version and the Senate version. They write up the final version of the bill.

Step #9- The bill is now signed by the Speaker of the House and the Vice President.

Conclusion- It is sent to the President and is signed into law, Scary Gary and Crazy Carl then throw a clown party for the whole town but unfortunately his house explodes before the party is over.

Your story should be finished before you start the cartoon.

Using your story you will draw a cartoon with each step illustrated in a box (number each step). It should be in full color and detail with a brief caption beneath explaining each frame.

In one hour the whole assignment must be complete or you will lose points.

When finished, I will check your story for completion as soon as you are finished and you will turn in the cartoon to the front table.