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How a Bill Becomes a Law
A retro-lesson, from School House Rock (circa 1975)
Lyrics to "I'm Just a Bill" follow, however, if you would prefer to hear the song or see the video clip click here!
I'm Just a Bill...
Music & Lyrics: Dave Frishberg
Whew! You sure gotta climb a lotta steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington! But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?
I'm just a bill,
Yes, I'm only a bill,
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city,
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law someday...
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I'm still just a bill.
Gee, bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage!
Well I got *this* far. When I started, I wasn't even a *bill* - I was just an idea. Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called their local congressman and he said, "You're right, there ought to be a law." Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to Congress, and I became a bill. And I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law.
I'm just a bill,
Yes I'm only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Hill.
Well now I'm stuck in committee
And I sit here and wait
While a few key congressmen
Discuss and debate
Whether they should
Let me be a law...
Oh how I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill.
Listen to those congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?
Yes. I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favourably, otherwise I may die.
"Die?"
Yeah,...Die in committee...Oooh! But it looks like I'm gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives and they vote on me.
If they vote "yes", what happens?
Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again!
Oh no!
Oh yes!
I'm just a bill,
Yes I'm only a bill,
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill,
Well then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills
For the President to sign.
And if he signs me then I'll be a law...
Oh, how I hope and pray that he will,
But today I am still just a bill.
You mean even if the whole Congress says you should be a law, the President can still say no?
Yes, that's called a "veto". If the President vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress, and they vote on me again, and by that time it's...
By that time, it's very unlikely that you'll *become* a law! It's not easy to become a law, is it?
No! But how I hope and I pray that I will, But today I am still just a bill!
He signed you, Bill! Now you're a LAW!!!
Oh, yes!
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