[FEL-L] Our legislative process

[Prometheus Horse]

Hello there, someone asked me to forward this to the list as a bit of refresher for some and enlightenment for others. Names have been removed to protect the privacy of the person from the original list the originating inquiry came from. Enjoy and comments welcome.
   
  Tim Fuller
   
  <begin>

            Both sections of the legislature, Senate and House, have to pass identical bills for it to have "passed both House and Senate and is now ready for the Governor's signature". That's to make sure both the Senate (where there's fewer members, usually) and the House agree that this is good legislation. That's one of the checks in our system of checks and balances. It's so that more people look at it and have to agree that it's a good idea, and that the populus at large can be legitimately represented rather than just one or two people voting how they feel like without taking into account the wishes of the general public, especially their constituents that would re-elect (or remove) them. If the House and Senate versions differ then a joint committee usually hammers out the differences between the two versions and re-presents the amended versions to both houses for passage as a final bill to be sent to the governor's desk. Then, if the governor were to veto the bill,
 yet another balance is in place that the legislature can override the governor's veto... though by what percentage is dependant on the state in question. That kind of thing is typically written into a state's constitution.
   
  Thus ends this lesson in "How the Government Works (or at least how it's supposed to work)"
   
  Tim Fuller
  President, NEOPOA
   
  <original individual wrote>:
  My name is [name withheld] and recently I have informed of a proposed Senate Bill trying to ban most reptiles/primates/cats/non domesticated dogs in the state of Indiana. Senate Bill 482 was first read to the Committee 
of Natural Resources January 18, 2007. Now today I find an identical bill, House Bill 1472 was read on January 23, 2007.

I am asking anyone why would they introduce two Bills that are the same in both the Senate and House? Please explain what in the world is going on. Any input is appreciated.

Thanks,

[name withheld]
   


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