What is a Bill?

A bill is the proposed form of a legislative act or statute, while in the course of legislation, and before it becomes a law.

How may a bill be Introduced?

No bills may be introduced in the Assembly except in one of the following modes, viz:

1. By deposit at any time during the session in a box known as the "Bill-Box", which is under the immediate charge of the Clerk. Every bill must be in duplicate, endorsed by its title, accompanied by the name of the member introducing it.

NOTE. At the close of each day's session, one of each of such bills deposited must be handed by the Clerk to the Speaker for his examination, after it has been recorded in a book kept for that purpose. At the next regular session the Speaker must announce the introduction of all bills thus received by him for their first reading (that is for reading by their titles), and refer them to their appropriate committee, by consent of the House.

2. By report of a committee.

3. By order of the House.

4. By message from the Senate.

What is done with a bill thus introduced?

All bills, whether introduced in the House or communicated by message from the Senate, must after their first reading be referred to a standing or select committee, to consider and report thereon. Such committee may report any bill, either with or without amendments, or it may report against the same.

What is done after a bill is favorably reported?

All bills favorably reported must, if the report be agreed to, be placed on the order of second reading: but where a bill has been reported adversely, and such report is agreed to by the House, it is rejected.

What happens to a bill on the order of Second Reading?

Bills on the order of second reading must be subject to debate before the motion to order them to a third Such bills must be read section

reading is entertained.

by section.

May a bill be Amended?

Bills may be amended on the second reading, and when so amended must be reprinted before they are read a third time. No bill may be put upon its third reading until it shall have been reported by the committee on printed and engrossed bills as correctly printed and properly engrossed.

What happens at the Third Reading?

On the third reading of the bill no amendments, except to fill blanks, are in order without unanimous. consent, unless on commitment such amendment has been reported by a committee; in which case, after amendments so reported shall have been disposed of, the question becomes the same as pending before the refer

ence.

Are these Three Readings compulsory?

Every bill previous to its passage, must receive three separate readings, on three different days, except by unanimous consent.

NOTE 1.-Three readings are required in the Senate, also in Congress. NOTE 2.-Bills are read in three ways,-reading the enacting clause; reading the title; reading it through by sections.

NOTE 3.-When a bill is reported by a committee without having been previously referred to the committee, it receives its first and second readings in the same manner as when introduced by a member.

What happens to a bill that the Assembly has passed :

It is delivered by the Clerk to the Senate, where it goes through the same general procedure as in the Assembly. Bills passed in the Senate are transmitted to the Assembly, and acted upon as though they originated there.

What happens to a bill when Amended?

When a bill is amended in either house, it must be returned to the other house for concurrence; a failure to concur defeats the bill.

What happens when both Houses have concurred?

After the concurrence of both houses in a bill, it is delivered by the Clerk of the one in which it originated to the Governor, and if it receives his approval it is by him sent to the Secretary of State, where it takes its place in the chapter of laws.

NOTE 1.-Each legislative body has its own particular rules, but these are in the main alike.

NOTE 2.-A Standing Committee is one appointed to continue during the session or term of the body from which it is chosen.

NOTE 3.-Where unanimous consent is asked for advancing a bill, it is the duty of the Speaker to order a roll-call for the purpose of determining if such consent be granted.

NOTE 4.-The enacting clause in the Legislature of New York is a constitutional provision, and reads as follows:

"The people of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: "

The enacting clause in Congress is a Statute law (1871):

"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States in Congress assembled:" for joint resolutions, "Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress assembled."

Who are entitled to Vote upon all questions in the Legislature? All the members of the Assembly and of the Senate, including the Speaker of the Assembly. Except upon questions upon which the Senate vote is tied, the LieutenantGovernor cannot vote, because he has not been elected a member. But a member of the Senate elected president thereof is always entitled to a vote.

NOTE. For manner of voting, see p. 131*. For Impeachments, see p. 132*.

SALARY.

How are Assemblymen and Senators paid?

I. By a salary fixed by the constitution, of $1,500;

II. And $1.00 for every 10 miles travelled in going to and returning from the place of meeting, once in each session on the most usual route.

III. Senators when convened in extraordinary session, or when serving as members of the Court of Impeachment, and such members of the Assembly, not exceeding 9 in number, as shall be appointed managers of an impeachment, shall receive $10.00 a day additional allowance.

TABULAR VIEW.

A tabular view of the officers, showing the source from whence they derive their authority.

the State. Elected by the people of

Appointed by Governor and Senate.

Administrative

Lieutenant Governor.

Secretary of State.
Comptroller.

Treasurer.

Attorney General.

State Engineer and Surveyor.

Judicial {Judges of the Court of Appeals.

Superintendent of Banking.
Superintendent of Insurance.
Railroad Commissioners.
Superintendent of Prisons.

Superintendent of Public Works.
Notaries Public.

State Assessors.

Loan Commissioners.
Board of Claims.

Quarantine Commissioners.

Trustees of State Institutions, and some others

Elec. by

joint hal.

Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Regents of the University.

United States Senators.

What are the first seven offices called?

They are called Elective Offices.

Why Elective?

Because the officers are voted for directly by the people.

Why are the Secretary of State, Comptroller, Treasurer, etc.,, called Administrative?

Because they assist the Governor in the administration and enforcement of the laws.

What are the Superintendents of Banking, Insurance, etc., called? They are called Appointive Officers.

Why Appointive?

Because these offices are filled by appointment by the Governor subject to ratification by the Senate.

What is meant by being elected in Joint Ballot?

Both houses (that is, Senate and Assembly) vote together as one body.

How many Officials in the offices just named?

One of each of the following: Gov., Lieut. Gov., Sec. of State, Comp., Treas., Atty. Gen., State Eng. and Surveyor; seven Judges of the Court of Appeals; three Railroad Commissioners; one Sup't each of Banking, Insurance, Prisons, and Public Works; three State Assessors; a large number of Notaries; two Loan Commissioners for each county; three members Board of Claims; one Superintendent of Public Instruction; and nineteen Regents.