The Bill's Journey: A Law Is Born

Learning about the law and how it's made is an important part of civic education. Several books introduce children to these concepts, explaining how a bill becomes a law in a fun and engaging way. These books are designed to teach kids about the U.S. government and the lawmaking process, from the introduction of a bill to its final approval or rejection by the President. They explore the journey of a bill, including the roles of Representatives, the Senate, and the President in the process. With activities, illustrations, and simple explanations, these books make learning about the complex world of government accessible and enjoyable for young readers.

Laws start as ideas

Creating laws is the most important job of the U.S. House of Representatives. All laws in the United States start as bills. 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. So, how does a bill become a law?

All laws begin as ideas. These ideas can come from a Representative or a citizen. If you have an idea for a new law, you can contact your Representative to discuss it. If the Representative agrees that it's a good idea, they will research it and write it up as a bill.

For example, let's say you want a law that requires all ice cream shops to give out free sprinkles on Sundays. You would contact your local Representative and explain your idea. If they like it, they will do some research and write up the details of the proposed law. This is the first step in turning your idea into a law!

Another example could be a law about protecting the environment. A Representative might get the idea from a group of scientists who are concerned about climate change. The Representative would then research the topic and write up a bill with specific details about how to address the issue.

Remember, laws start as ideas, and anyone can have a great idea that makes a positive impact on our society!

The bill is proposed

Now that Representative Smith has written the bill, it needs a sponsor. A sponsor is another way of saying 'a person who supports the bill'. Representative Smith will talk to the other Representatives about the bill and ask them to support it. This is a bit like asking your friends to support you when you're running for class president!

Once Representative Smith has found a sponsor and some other Representatives who support the bill, it is ready to be introduced. This is when the bill is placed in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives are allowed to introduce bills in the U.S. House of Representatives.

When the bill is put in the hopper, a bill clerk gives it a special number that starts with H.R. This number is very important because it helps people keep track of the bill as it goes on its journey to becoming a law. After the bill gets its number, a reading clerk reads it out loud to all the Representatives, so they know what it is about.

The Speaker of the House then sends the bill to one of the House standing committees. These committees are groups of Representatives who are experts on different topics, like education or health. The committee will carefully review, research, and discuss the bill before deciding what to do next.

The bill is introduced

So, you want to know about how a bill becomes a law? Well, it all starts with an idea. Anyone can have an idea for a new law, even you! If you have an idea, you can talk to your local Representative about it. Representatives are the people who help make laws in something called the House of Representatives. If your Representative likes your idea, they will do some research and then write it all down in a proposal called a bill.

Now, the bill needs a sponsor. The Representative will talk to other Representatives about the bill and ask them to support it. Once the Representative has found some supporters, the bill is ready to be introduced.

Introducing a bill is very exciting because it is the first step towards it becoming a law! In the United States House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it is placed in a special box called the hopper, which is on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives are allowed to introduce bills in the House of Representatives.

Once the bill is in the hopper, a bill clerk gives it a very important number that starts with the letters H.R. This number will be used to identify the bill from now on. Then, a reading clerk reads the bill out loud to all the Representatives, so everyone knows what it is about. After that, the Speaker of the House sends the bill to a group of Representatives with special knowledge on the topic, called a House standing committee.

Phew! That's a lot of steps, but we're still not done yet! Stay tuned to find out what happens next...

The bill goes to committee

Once the bill has been introduced, it is sent to a committee. Committees are made up of groups of Representatives who are experts on different topics, like agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee members carefully review, research, and revise the bill. They might also invite experts to share their opinions and answer questions. This process helps the committee members understand the bill better and decide if any changes need to be made.

If the committee members want more information before making a decision, they can send the bill to a subcommittee. A subcommittee is like a smaller group within the committee. They will take a closer look at the bill and gather even more expert opinions before sending it back to the main committee.

After the committee has finished reviewing and researching the bill, they will vote on whether to send it back to the House floor. This is an important step because it gives the bill a chance to be discussed and improved by experts before it moves forward in the process of becoming a law.

The committee members might suggest changes or additions to the bill before they vote. They might also decide that the bill needs more work and should be sent back to the sponsor or the Representatives for further revisions. It's important to get the bill just right because it will become a law that everyone in the country has to follow!

Let's imagine a bill about protecting a particular species of bird that is in danger. The committee members might invite bird experts and scientists to share their knowledge. They might ask questions like, "What kind of habitat does this bird need to survive?" or "What are the biggest threats to this bird's survival?" The committee can use this information to improve the bill and make sure it effectively addresses the issue.

So, the next time you hear about a bill going to committee, remember that it's an important step in the journey towards becoming a law!

The bill is reported

Once the committee has approved a bill, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported". When a bill is reported, it is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives.

When a bill is debated, Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. They give their reasons for supporting or opposing the bill. Then, a reading clerk reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend changes. When all the changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives:

• Viva Voce (voice vote): The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say “aye” and those that oppose it say “no.”
• Division: The Speaker of the House asks those Representatives who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then those who oppose the bill to stand up and be counted.
• Recorded: Representatives record their vote using the electronic voting system. Representatives can vote yes, no, or present (if they don’t want to vote on the bill).

If a majority of the Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate.

Frequently asked questions