Writing Laws: Citizen Power To Draft Bills

Citizens can play an important role in the creation of laws in the United States. All laws in the United States begin as bills, which can be proposed by citizens or citizen groups. These citizens can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas, and if the Representatives agree, they will research the ideas and write them into bills. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. To become a law, the bill must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President.

How to contact a Representative to discuss an idea for a bill

Anyone can write a bill, but for it to become a law, it must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President. If you have an idea for a bill, you can contact your Representative to discuss it. If they agree with your idea, they will research it and write it into a bill. When a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor.

To contact your Representative, you can:

• Find their contact information online. You can usually find this on the Representative's website or the U.S. House of Representatives website.
• Call or email the Representative's office to set up a meeting or phone call to discuss your idea.
• Prepare for your meeting or phone call by researching the issue and how it could be addressed through legislation.
• During the meeting or phone call, clearly explain your idea and why you think it is important. Be prepared to answer any questions the Representative may have.
• Follow up with the Representative's office after the meeting or phone call to see if they are interested in pursuing your idea further.

It is important to note that even if your Representative agrees with your idea, it may not become a bill or a law. There are many factors that go into the legislative process, and not all ideas make it through to become laws. However, by contacting your Representative and sharing your ideas, you can make your voice heard and potentially make a difference.

The two types of bills: private and public

In the US, creating laws is the most important job of the House of Representatives. All laws in the United States begin as bills. Before a bill can become a law, it must be approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President. The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the Senate or House of Representatives or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. Citizens who have ideas for laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If the Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. When a Representative has written a bill, the bill needs a sponsor. While the House of Representatives is in session, any Member, Delegate, or even Resident Commissioner can introduce a bill officially by placing it in the “hopper”, which is a wooden box next to the Clerk’s desk.

There are two types of bills: private and public. Private bills affect a specific individual, while public bills affect the general public. Any bill that deals with revenue always begins in the House of Representatives. Almost anyone can write a bill; however, the majority of bills that are introduced to Congress come from members or constituents.

The process of a bill becoming a law

Once a bill is written, it needs a sponsor and is then officially introduced by placing it in the 'hopper', a wooden box next to the Clerk's desk. The bill is then assigned to a committee, whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.

For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President. When a bill reaches the President, they have three choices: they can sign and pass the bill, refuse to sign or veto the bill, or do nothing (pocket veto). If the President chooses to veto the bill, it is sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the President's reasons for the veto. If the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote on the bill. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden, and the bill becomes a law.

How a bill can be introduced

Anyone can write a bill, but the majority of bills that are introduced to Congress come from members or constituents. Bills can be introduced by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.

While the U.S. House of Representatives is in session, any Member, Delegate, or even Resident Commissioner can introduce a bill officially by placing it in the "hopper", which is a wooden box next to the Clerk's desk.

Before a bill can become a law, it must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President. There are two different types of bills: private bills that affect a specific individual and public bills that affect the general public. Any bill that deals with revenue always begins in the House of Representatives.

What happens when a bill reaches the President

Citizens can write bills to become laws. Laws begin as ideas, and these ideas can come from citizens. Citizens with ideas for laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If the Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. When a Representative has written a bill, the bill needs a sponsor. Any Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner can introduce a bill officially by placing it in the 'hopper' next to the Clerk's desk.

Once a bill reaches the President, he has three choices. He can:

• Sign and pass the bill – the bill becomes a law.
• Refuse to sign, or veto, the bill – the bill is sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the President's reasons for the veto. If the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote on the bill. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law.
• Do nothing (pocket veto) – if Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days.

Frequently asked questions