Public Policies

PUBLIC POLICIES

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The Medical Marijuana Protection Act (H .R 5842

Congress representative Barney Frank introduced the bill on April 17 He was co-sponsored by representative Ron Paul . The bill is currently being considered in the House Committee on Commerce and Energy . The bill seeks to end the classification of marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug thereby permitting doctors to prescribe it for medical use . Furthermore the bill seeks to prevent arrest and jailing of medical marijuana patients using marijuana legally ( HYPERLINK "http

/www .govtrack .us /congress /billtext .xpd ?bill h110-5842 http /www .govtrack .us /congress /billtext .xpd ?bill h110-5842

The Process a proposed bill goes through in U .S Congress before it becomes law

The sponsor of the bill introduces it by handing it over to the clerk of the house . The clerk then mumbers the bill and gives it a title . It is the written in the House journal and in the record of the Congress Often , the bill is known by the name of the legislator who introduces it . This procedure is called the first reading (Walston , 2002

After the first reading , the House speaker assigns the bill to the relevant committee . The committee then studies the bill by listening to the testimony of experts or interest groups . Its contents and possible ramifications are considered . In some cases , the study is conducted by a subcommitee . The committee can revise or release the bill by reporting it out or laying it aside which means the House cannot vote on it Before the bill goes to the House for consideration , it is placed on one of the five specific calendars : house calendar for public bills , union calendar , private calendar , discharge calendar or consent calendar . The Rules Committee may limit debate or call for quick action on the bill (Walston , 2002

The second reading of the bill marks the beginning of consideration of the house . The third reading is done after any ammendments have been added . If the bill passes a simple majority , it goes to the Senate . In the senate again the bill is introduced by a senator . The presiding officer of the Senate who is the vice president assigns the proposed law to a committee for further study . The committee or one of its subcommittee studies the bill and holds hearings if necessary . The committee can approve , revise or table the bill . When there is no further discussion on the strengths and weaknesses of the bill , the senate votes (Walston , 2002

After both houses agree , the bill is revised by members of both houses before it is passed to the President . It is then printed by the government printing office in a process called enrolling . The speaker signs the enrolled bill followed by the vice president . Finally the Congress sends the proposed legislation to the White house for the President 's consideration (Walston , 2002

The president can approve , veto or take no action on the bill . If he or she agrees with it , he...