CongressDays.6

Congress Day 6 - Wednesday 14 April 2010
On Wed 4/14, we will be taking a look at the legislation you have written. All of it is being placed in the Hopper page as I receive it.

If you're still writing:
Remember a **Bill** outlines specific policy actions to take while a **Resolution** offers an official position on an issue, often used for matters outside the direct control of the Congress. [|Here's advice on writing a bill from Princeton Model Congress] along with 2 sample bills to use as models Use this bill template for your legislation: [|(Word Doc download here)]

Preamble - this tells how things are now, and begins with "Whereas..." Body - with sections (for each new idea) and subsections. Some bills also have a "definitions" section for key terms used in the bill Enactment Clause - this tells when it will take effect
 * All bills have three parts:**

For the establishment, etc. [as the title may be]. //Be it enacted by the House of Congress of the United States of America in Congress assembled//, That, etc.
 * A BILL**

---or---

Authorizing, etc. [as the title may be]. //Resolved by the House of Congress of the United States of America in Congress assembled,// That, etc.
 * JOINT RESOLUTION**

On Wed 4/14
We will divide the bills up into committees, and committees will begin deciding what to recommend about them.

Table (the bill is dead) Revise and Report Out (the bill needs revision or amendment, but it's not dead, only maimed) Release unchanged with your recommendation on how the Congress should vote (it's alive!)
 * Remember, you have three options:**

If you need to call "expert witnesses" to testify before your committees, you can issue those subpoenas and compel the bill's authors to testify.

If we vote, bills will pass by majority, and then go to the White House for signing. Some percentage (determined by [|dice roll]) will be vetoed, and will come back for a veto override.