The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1950-02-23
BY CONGRESSMAN
Bob Sccre St

great interest for many months
or even years before they are
finally enacted into law. People
who want certain bills passed
can not understand this long de-
lay. During my time in congress
many bills introduced by me
have been enacted into law and
| do not hesitate to affirm that
one of the most difficult things
in this world is that of becom-
ing the author of a federal law
1t requires patience, a know
ledge of the machinery of con-
gress and hard work.
The pattern of our congress
was adopted by the trainers of
our Constitution. There was no
telegraph system to carry news
to the papers of the country
There were no radio stations to
Immediately inform the people
of legislation being considered
or acted upon by the congress
Our forefathers wisely estab-
lished House and Senate in
the belief that if one body acted
hastily and unwisely, the other
body might discover and correct
the mistake.
They were anxious that the
people have time to protest bills
| that would destroy their liber-
ties or work against their COM
mon good. Practically all the
rules of the House and Senate
were adopted years ago and rul-
ings of the Speaker of the
and President of the Senate
were accepted as precedents that
are rigidly followed today.
l think it will be interesting
and profitable for me to list the
steps most bills take in their
journey through Congress. l be-
lieve it will help adults to better
understand the daily news from
Washington and I know it will
, be of value to thousands of
grade and high school students
who are taking courses in civics
and government.
The steps a bill takes are as
follows:
Cd A Congressman introduces
the bill.
(2) The bill is referred to the
proper committee.
(3) A subcommittee is ap-
pointed to study the measure.
"a Public hearings are held.
Persons for and against the bill
are heard.
(5) The subcommittee reports
the bill to the full committee.
(6) The full committee con-
siders the measure and finally
reports it to the House.
CD The bill is placed on the
proper House calendar.
(8) The measure is debated in
the House. 1t can be passed, de-
feated or sent back to committee
for further consideration.
(9) If the bill passes, it is sent
to the Senate.
(10) In the Senate the meas
ure is referred to the proper
committee.
CD A Senate subcommittee
studies the measure.
(l2) Public hearings are again
held.
(13) The Senate subcommittee
reports the bill to the full COM
mittee.
(14) The full committee con-
siders the measure and approves
it.
(l5) The bill is reported and
placed On the Senate calendar.
(16) The Senate debates the
measure and may also add
amendments of its own.
(17) If amendments are made,
the bill goes to a conference
committee made up of Senators
and Representatives.
(18) The conference commit
tee agrees on a compromise
measure which it thinks will be
acceptable to both Houses.
(19) The bill agreed upon by
the conference committee goes
back to the House and Senate.
600 The House must vote on
the conference report.
(22) If both the House and
Senate pass the bill submitted
by the conferees. the final bill
goes to the President.
(23) The President can sign
bill. making it law or veto it.
(24) If the bill is vetoed, the
House and Senate can enact it
into a law by overriding the
veto by a two-thirds majority of
both houses.
Anywhere along the line the
bill may be killed by the vote of
a subcommittee, the full COM
mittee, or either the House or
the Senate. Like an obstacle
course in basic training, or
fraternity initiation where the
pledge skips through a double
line of brothers armed with
over sized barrel slaves, the
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