How Governors Can Enact Laws

The process of a bill becoming a law is a complex one. In the United States, a bill must be approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President before it can become a law. Once a bill has been approved by both chambers of a legislature, the executive (the President) must sign the bill for it to become a law. If the President does not approve of the bill, they can veto it, in which case it is sent back to the House of Representatives. The President also has the option to do nothing, which is known as a pocket veto. If a bill is vetoed, it can still become a law if two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support it, overriding the President's veto. In the state of Illinois, the Governor has a similar role in the process of a bill becoming a law. The Governor can approve a bill and sign it into law or veto it and send it back to the house in which it originated.

The process of a bill becoming a law

Drafting and Introduction

The legislative process begins with the drafting of the bill. This is typically done by members of the House or Senate, who sponsor and introduce bills for consideration. The bill is then submitted to a legislative office, where it is reviewed, researched, and prepared in the proper technical form. A fiscal review is also conducted, and the bill is assigned a number.

Committee Review and Public Input

Once introduced, the bill undergoes committee review. It is common for committees to hold open meetings, allowing the public to attend and provide comments. The committee may decide to amend, hold, table, substitute, or make a favourable recommendation on the bill. The bill may be referred to a specific committee or subcommittee based on its subject matter.

House and Senate Review

After the committee review, the bill moves to the House or Senate for further debate and approval. Members of the House or Senate may propose amendments, add text, or make other alterations. The bill must be approved by both chambers, with each chamber typically requiring multiple readings.

Governor's Review

If the bill passes both chambers, it is then presented to the Governor for review. The Governor has the power to approve or veto the bill. If the Governor approves, they sign the bill into law. If they veto it, the bill is returned to the originating chamber with objections. The chambers can then attempt to override the veto by passing the bill again with a supermajority vote.

Implementation and Codification

Once a bill becomes law, it is assigned a Public Law number by the Office of Federal Register, and the Government Printing Office publishes a copy. Laws are initially issued individually and later organised in the order they were passed. Finally, they are codified by subject, grouping all laws on the same topic together.

It is important to note that the exact process can vary between different states and at the federal level, with specific procedures and timelines outlined in state constitutions and legislative rules.

The role of the House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress, the other being the Senate. The House has four calendars of business: the Union Calendar, the House Calendar, the Private Calendar, and the Calendar of Motions to Discharge Committees. These calendars are compiled into one publication that is printed each day the House is in session. This publication includes information such as the history of Senate-passed bills, House bills reported out of committee, and other relevant information.

The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the legislative process. The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the House or be proposed during their election campaign. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The bill is then put before the House for a vote. If the bill passes the House, it moves on to the Senate, where it goes through a similar process of committee review, discussion, changes, and voting.

The House of Representatives also has the power to originate appropriation bills and revenue legislation. This means that the House has the sole authority to introduce bills related to government spending and revenue. This is an important function as it allows the House to have a direct impact on the country's budget and financial policies.

Additionally, the House plays a role in impeachments. It presents the charges, similar to the function of a grand jury, while the Senate sits as a court to try the impeachment. This collaborative process between the two chambers ensures a fair and balanced approach to addressing impeachment cases.

The role of the Senate

Once a bill is introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, it is assigned a number that begins with "H.R." and is then read to all the Representatives. It then goes through a series of reviews, research, and revisions before being voted on. If a majority of Representatives support the bill, it is certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate.

In the Senate, the bill goes through similar steps as in the House of Representatives. It is discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor for a vote. Senators vote by voice, with those in support saying "yea" and those opposed saying "nay." If a majority of Senators vote in favour of the bill, it passes in the Senate.

At this point, the bill has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, it still needs the approval of the President to become a law. The President has three choices: sign and pass the bill, veto it, or do nothing (pocket veto). If the President signs the bill, it becomes a law. If the President vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of both the House of Representatives and the Senate support it, overriding the presidential veto.

It is important to note that the Senate and the House of Representatives have equal legislative functions and powers, according to the Constitution. This means that the Senate plays an essential role in shaping and approving legislation, and its approval is necessary for a bill to become a law.

The governor's approval

In the United States, a bill must be approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President before becoming a law. The President has three options when a bill reaches them: they can sign and pass the bill, making it a law; refuse to sign or veto the bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives with their reasons for the veto; or do nothing, which is known as a "pocket veto". If the President chooses to veto the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support it, overriding the President's veto.

At the state level, the governor has a similar role in the legislative process. For example, in Illinois, if the Governor approves of the bill, they shall sign it, and it shall become law. If the Governor does not approve, they have the power to veto it and return it to the house in which it originated, along with their objections. The bill can still become a law if it is passed by a record vote of three-fifths of the members elected in each house within 15 calendar days. Additionally, the Governor may reduce or veto any item of appropriations in a bill, and portions of the bill not reduced or vetoed shall become law.

In summary, the governor's approval is an essential component of the law-making process. While the specific procedures may vary between states, the governor's signature is generally required for a bill to become a law. The governor's power to veto a bill and offer recommendations for change further underscores their significant role in shaping the legislative landscape of their state. Understanding the governor's approval process is crucial for any organization or individual seeking to influence policy through the passage of legislation.

Veto procedure

In the United States, the president can use the veto power to prevent a bill passed by Congress from becoming law. All state governors have similar veto powers, as do some mayors and county executives. In many states, the governor has additional veto powers, including line-item, amendatory and reduction vetoes.

The veto procedure for state governors is similar to that of the US president. If the governor does not approve of a bill, they must veto it by returning it with their objections to the house in which it originated within 60 calendar days. The house to which the bill is returned must then immediately enter the governor's objections upon its journal. If a reduced item is not restored to its original amount, it shall become law in the reduced amount.

The governor may also return a bill with specific recommendations for change to the house in which it originated. The bill is then considered in the same manner as a vetoed bill, but the specific recommendations may be accepted by a record vote of a majority of the members elected to each house. If the recommendations are accepted, the bill is presented again to the governor, and if he certifies that such acceptance conforms to his specific recommendations, the bill shall become law. If the governor does not certify this, they must return the bill as vetoed to the house in which it originated.

In Illinois, the General Assembly must provide for a uniform effective date for laws passed before June 1 of a calendar year. The Assembly may provide for a different effective date in any law passed before June 1.

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