Download The Legislative and Executive Processes: From Proposal to Law and Presidential Powers and more Study notes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! 1. Write an essay explaining the hurdles a proposal must go through before it becomes a reality. • Bill gets sent to its relative committee ---> transportations committee • Starts at the sub-committee level, sent from higher committee • Happens in both Senate and House • Then, in the House, it goes to the Rules Committee • Schedule legislation, decide when the full House will vote on legislation • Decide a time for debate and amendment process • Goes to the full House and Senate • Majority vote; Senate can slow it with filibusters • If it passes both, goes to Conference Committee • Reconciles differences between House and Senate • After Conference Committee, goes back to full House and Senate • If it passes both again, goes to President • If he signs it, it becomes a law • Second bill needed to appropriate money if money is involved • If he vetoes it, veto can be overridden by a 2/3 vote of both House and Senate • Second bill needed to appropriate money if money is involved 2. What committees do you want to get on and why? • Substance ---> transportation, education, commerce; important to your area • Appropriations ---> in charge of all the money • Rules ---> schedule legislation, decide when to debate and amend legislation • Ways and Means ---> all taxation (tax loop holes), social security, health care, welfare, international trade • Budget ---> set up plan for revenue and plan for spending • Authorization- authorization of money to be spent • Appropriation- spending of money 3. What factors influence how a Congress member can vote? • Party, self, district, money, country, and voters 4. What are the powers of Congress? Current events. • Lawmaking ---> Obama's health care bill that is currently going through Congress • Money- decides where money goes • Oversight- watches implementation of programs • Ratify treaties • Confirm executive and judicial appointments • Agenda setting ---> sets what issues are prevalent and will be discussed • Declare war? 5. What are the different roles of the President? Current events. • Head of State ---> at world series, invites championship teams to White House • Commander in Chief- top military officer • Chief Diplomat- conducts/head of foreign policy • Economic Leader ---> expected to fix our bad economy with little tools • Agenda Setter- focus on what issues should be addressed • Chief Legislator- veto, dictate what legislation looks like • Labeling • FDA • Approve drugs • Theoretical model • Animal testing • Human testing 9. What are the powers of the bureaucracy? Current events. • Control information and expertise • Decision makers need info to make decisions • Administer programs • How well they administer programs affects us • Discretion • How they administer programs • Highways- when should they stop for speeding • Rule making • Most legislation is too vague to get enforced • Bureaucracy issues regulations/rules that are like laws • Adjudication • Using the court system • Administrative court system • Negotiation/Meditation • Negotiates and mediates disputes • Foreign policy • Environmental policy • U.S. is world's second largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions • Moving forward, but in fragmented, state-by-state approach
