Lawmaking And The Legislative Process: Committees, Connections, And Compromises [Paperback]

This highly readable resource is designed for those who want to gain a basic understanding of how bills are enacted into laws through the state legislative process. Written in an engaging narrative style,Lawmaking and the Legislative Processtakes readers through a series of fictitious bills, reviewing each critical step.TOMMY NEAL is a policy specialist in the Legislative Management Program at the National Conference of State Legislatures in Denver, Colorado. He is a former journalist, state legislator, Colorado state land commissioner, congressional aide, and school teacher. Neal has a master's degree in U.S. history from Northwestern University.

Preface vii
PART I A Case Study 1
CHAPTER 1: Megan and Friends 3
PART II Getting Started 9
CHAPTER 2: Making Connections 11
CHAPTER 3: The Role of Staff 23
CHAPTER 4: The Role of Lobbyists 28
CHAPTER 5: The Beginning of a Bill: From Idea to the Hopper 32
PART III The Legislative Process 51
CHAPTER 6: Committees 53
CHAPTER 7: On the Floor 87
CHAPTER 8: Conference Committees 104
CHAPTER 9: Governor's Choice 115
PART IV Other Lawmakers 119
CHAPTER 10: Congress 121
CHAPTER 11: Local Government 133
CHAPTER 12: Citizens 142
PART V Appendices 159
APPENDIX 1: Vetes and Veto Override 161
APPENDIX 2: Names of State Legislative Bodies 165
APPENDIX 3: State Legislators: Number and Terms 167
APPENDIX 4: Election Qualifications for State Legislators 169
APPENDIX 5: Sources of Information about Your State Legislature 172
APPENDIX 6: Average Size of Legislative Districts 175
APPENDIX 7: Tips for Testifying before a Legislative Committee 176
Materials Available from State Legislatures 179
Glossary of Legislative Language 181
Bibliography 191
Index 195