MINNESOTA POLITICS
Learn about the legislative process, effective contact/communication stategies, political parties and candidates/elected officials in support of REFORMING MARIJUANA LAWS. Know how to RAISE YOUR VOICE and HAVE IT BE HEARD!!
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS
Introduction:
Anyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and by doing so become the sponsor(s). There are four basic types of legislation: bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions. The official legislative process begins when a bill or resolution is numbered - H.R. signifies a House bill and S. a Senate bill - referred to a committee and printed by the Government Printing Office.
Step 1. Referral to Committee:
With few exceptions, bills are referred to standing committees in the House or Senate according to carefully delineated rules of procedure.
Step 2. Committee Action:
When a bill reaches a committee it is placed on the committee's calendar. A bill can be referred to a subcommittee or considered by the committee as a whole. It is at this point that a bill is examined carefully and its chances for passage are determined. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is the equivalent of killing it.
Step 3. Subcommittee Review:
Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, supporters and opponents of the legislation. Testimony can be given in person or submitted as a written statement.
Step 4. Mark Up:
When the hearings are completed, the subcommittee may meet to "mark up" the bill, that is, make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report legislation to the full committee, the bill dies.
Step 5. Committee Action to Report A Bill:
After receiving a subcommittee's report on a bill, the full committee can conduct further study and hearings, or it can vote on the subcommittee's recommendations and any proposed amendments. The full committee then votes on its recommendation to the House or Senate. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported."
Step 6. Publication of a Written Report:
After a committee votes to have a bill reported, the committee chairman instructs staff to prepare a written report on the bill. This report describes the intent and scope of the legislation, impact on existing laws and programs, position of the executive branch, and views of dissenting members of the committee.
Step 7. Scheduling Floor Action:
After a bill is reported back to the chamber where it originated, it is placed in chronological order on the calendar. In the House there are several different legislative calendars, and the Speaker and majority leader largely determine if, when, and in what order bills come up. In the Senate there is only one legislative calendar.
Step 8. Debate:
When a bill reaches the floor of the House or Senate, there are rules or procedures governing the debate on legislation. These rules determine the conditions and amount of time allocated for general debate.
Step 9. Voting:
After the debate and the approval of any amendments, the bill is passed or defeated by the members voting.
Step 10. Referral to Other Chamber:
When a bill is passed by the House or the Senate it is referred to the other chamber where it usually follows the same route through committee and floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.
Step 11. Conference Committee Action:
If only minor changes are made to a bill by the other chamber, it is common for the legislation to go back to the first chamber for concurrence. However, when the actions of the other chamber significantly alter the bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is reached, a conference report is prepared describing the committee members recommendations for changes. Both the House and the Senate must approve of the conference report.
Step 12. Final Actions:
After a bill has been approved by both the House and Senate in identical form, it is sent to the President. If the President approves of the legislation he/she signs it and it becomes law. Or, the President can take no action for ten days, while Congress is in session, and it automatically becomes law. If the President opposes the bill he/she can veto it; or, if he/she takes no action after the Congress has adjourned its second session, it is a "pocket veto" and the legislation dies.
Step 13. Overriding a Veto:
If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to "override the veto." This requires a two thirds roll call vote of the members who are present in sufficient numbers for a quorum.
EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING WITH OFFICIALS
Tips On Telephoning Your Elected Representatives
To find your senators' and representative's phone numbers, you may use our searchable online congressional directory or call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202)224-3121 and ask for your senators' and/or representative's office.
Remember that telephone calls are usually taken by a staff member, not the member of Congress. Ask to speak with the aide who handles the issue about which you wish to comment.
After identifying yourself, tell the aide you would like to leave a brief message, such as: "Please tell Senator/Representative (Name) that I support/oppose (S.___/H.R.___)."
You will also want to state reasons for your support or opposition to the bill. Ask for your senators' or representative's position on the bill. You may also request a written response to your telephone call.
Tips On Writing Congress
The letter is the most popular choice of communication with a congressional office. If you decide to write a letter, this list of helpful suggestions will improve the effectiveness of the letter:
- Your purpose for writing should be stated in the first paragraph of the letter. If your letter pertains to a specific piece of legislation, identify it accordingly, e.g., House bill: H. R. ____, Senate bill: S.____.
- Be courteous, to the point, and include key information, using examples to support your position.
- Address only one issue in each letter; and, if possible, keep the letter to one page.
Addressing Correspondence:
To a Senator:
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator:
To a Representative:
The Honorable (full name)
__(Rm.#)__(name of)House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
Note: When writing to the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House, it is proper to address them as:
Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:Dear Madam Speaker or Mr. Speaker:
Tips On E-mailing Congress
Generally, the same guidelines apply as with writing letters to Congress.
MINNESOTA'S GRASSROOTS PARTY:
The Common Sense Alternative in Minnesota Politics, Dedicated to Personal Freedom, Justice and Peace.
GRASSROOTS PARTY PRINCIPLES:
~Defend the Bill of Rights. Get government out of your personal life.
~End America's Oil Addiction. Develop alternative energy resources for cheap, nonpolluting fuel.
~Balance the budget with new revenue from re-legalization of hemp, for all its uses!
Getting to know the Grassroots Party
1. Petitioned to get candidates on the ballot: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998---tens of thousands of signatures gathered. [It takes 2,000 valid signatures for each statewide candidate in Minnesota---collected in a 2-week time period.] At least 27 candidates appeared on the ballot as Grassroots Party or Legal Marijuana Now candidates in Minnesota; and others in Vermont, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
2. Ran for offices ranging from local school board to Congress to President. In 1990 and 1994, came within 1/10 of a percentage point to winning major party status (5% of the statewide votes.)
3. Produced campaign commercials for radio and cable tv, advocating legalization.
4. Participated in candidate debates and voters' guides, wherever and whenever possible.
5. Brought pro-legalization candidates into high school political forums, when invited.
6. Fought for and won the right to set up a booth at the State Fair and ran it for years.
7. Collected thousands of signatures on a pro-legalization petition presented to Governor Perpich.
8. Staged dozens of protest demonstrations and picket-lines, for instance: April 15 tax day protests; protest against Drug Czar Bill Bennett; protests against Atty. Gen. Skip Humphrey; we picketed Perpich's "drug war" speech at Bloomington Jefferson high school; etc.
9. Testified at legislative hearings and at the Governor's "Blue Ribbon" drug-abuse committee hearings.
10. Wrote hundreds of letters to newspapers and dozens of op-ed articles for papers across the state and nation; scores of these were published. This encouraged other citizens to speak out.
11. Published a newsletter for members and supporters from 1985 to 1996.
12. Participated with tables, banners, signs, and leafleting at community events and parades: May Day; GLBT Pride; Cedarfest; Grand Old Days; Riverfest; and others.
13. Held annual rallies at the Capitol with great bands and amateur speeches---the original Minnesota Tea Party. This is still being continued by Chris Wright and other stalwart souls.
14. Took part in national NORML meetings, and regional conferences with fellow activists in Ames and in Iowa City; also a remarkable one in Minneapolis at Cedar-Riverside.
15. Pioneered high-visibility tactics: Day-Glo stenciled signs held at ramps and intersections: "Legalize Pot--Vote Grassroots!" Made and distributed many thousands of lapel pins. And we sold great t-shirts!
16. Produced countless thousands of campaign flyers and pro-legalization leaflets and distributed them far and wide, from outside the State Fair, to Turkey Days in Worthington, to street corners in Duluth.
17. For lawful First Amendment activities of literature distribution and petitioning, Chris Wright was arrested and several other members were hassled by police or other hostile authorities. (The St. Paul police department apologized. Minneapolis didn't.)
18. Sent marchers with signs and banners to Ann Harbor's Hash Bash and Midison's Harvest Festival.
19. Wrote hundreds of letters to elected officials of local, state, and national governments.
20. As a legally-recognized minor political party, we collected money from the Minnesota income-tax check off for political financing. We also raised money through the political contribution rebate, where the state compensated people for their contributions to our candidates. [This program was nullified by Governor Pawlenty's so-called "unallotment" action.]
Search MN Candidates, just ckick here!
(otherwise, copy/paste link: http://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/)
