Jason and Hayley were picnicking with their parents in Mammoth Cave National Park when they noticed that many families had brought their pet dogs for the scenic outing. There were at least two poodles, a cocker spaniel, a beagle resembling Snoopy (Charlie Brown's dog), and even a large collie.
The children realized how popular pet dogs must be, for even in their hometown park, owners often walked their dogs. Dogs are special to a lot of people; some people say they are "man's best friend." There should be a tribute to dogs in Kentucky, thought Jason.
Just a few days earlier, Jason's class at school had been discussing Kentucky's state flower, the goldenrod, and the state bird, the cardinal. He told his parents that Kentucky should have a state dog, and he thought it should be the cute and playful beagle.
Jason's dad explained to him that the idea would have to be brought before the state legislature in the form of a bill. If approved, it would be a law. He suggested that Jason write to the senator from their area, Senator Boone, and ask for his help with the idea.
After dicussing the idea with Jason and Hayley, Senator Boone agreed to help the children make their idea a law by writing and sponsoring a "beagle bill." In a few short weeks, Senator Boone took the idea to the Senate.
The first step was to introduce the bill by delivering it to the Senate Clerk. (If a state representative were sponsoring the bill instead, it would be introduced to the House Clerk.) There, the bill was given a number--Senate Bill 1, or SB1 for short--and assigned to a committee for study. The committee members decided they liked the bill, so they reported it out of committee "favorably," and the bill had its first reading in the Senate chamber of the state Capitol.
The following day SB1 was read a second time and sent to the Rules Committee for one final review. The Rules Committee decides which bills actually go to the full Senate for a final vote. Within a few days, the bill was sent back to the Senate floor and read for the third and final time. The 38 members of the Senate debated the measure and a vote was taken. The vote was 38 to 0 in favor of the bill. Then, SB1 went down the hall to the House of Representatives where the same process had to start all over again.
The House can make "amendments" (changes) to a bill as long as the Senate "concurs" (agrees) with the changes. But the House made no changes in SB1, and all 100 representatives voted in favor of the bill. At this point, the beagle bill is almost law. It must go to the Governor now...
The Governor may sign the bill, thus making it a law, or it may become a law without his or her signature. The bill may be "vetoed" (rejected) if the Governor does not want it to become a law. If vetoed, SB1 still may become law if a majority of members of both the House and the Senate vote in favor of the bill again, thus "overriding" the Governor's veto. But the Governor liked SB1, so it was signed, and the beagle bill became law in 90 days.
Jason and Hayley were proud of their hard work, for they had succeeded in making one of their ideas into a state law.