The Bill in the Other House

In the senate, a bill follows the same steps as in the House. But the Senate handles a bill somewhat differently. While senators introduce bills more formally, most of the other Senate procedures are less formal than those of the House. This is mainly because the Senate is smaller

The Senate's Rules for Debate

Unlike the House, the Senate allows debate on bills to go on almost without limit. Senate debate usually stops only if all senators agree, debate can continue indefinitely. This unlimited debate has given rise to the filibuster; which is talking a bill to death. Those against a bill keep talking until the other senators either drop the bill or amend it to please those against it. The Senate can stop a filibuster only if three-fifths (60) of the senators vote for cloture- limiting debate.

The Conference Committee

For Congress to send a bill to the President, both houses must have passed identical versions of the bill. If they have not and neither is willing to accept the other's version, the houses set up a congerence committee to work on a compromise version. If it comes up with a compromise bill, both houses vote on it. If both houses pass it, Congress sends it to the President.

The President Acts

Once the bill reaches the President, he has ten day to take action. The Constitution gives him four options.

1. He can sign the bill. It then becomes a law.

2. He can veto, or refuse to sign, the bill. He describes his problems with the bill and sends it back to Congress. Unless

both houses approve the bill again with a two-thirds majority, the bill dies. If Congress does pass the bill again, it

becomes a law without the President's signature. Usually, Congress does not go against the President by passing the law

anyway.

3. He can let the bill become law by not signing it within the ten days.

4. He can pocket veto the bill, if Congress ends its term before the ten-day period ends. The President does not sign the bill.