Understanding The Legislative Process: A Visual Guide

In the United States, the process of a bill becoming a law is a complex one. All laws in the United States begin as bills, which can be proposed by a Representative or a citizen. The journey of a bill to becoming a law involves several stages, including proposal, introduction, committee review, reporting, debate, voting, referral to the Senate, and finally, approval by the President. Understanding this process is crucial for effective advocacy and influencing public policy. This sequence of steps ensures that ideas are thoroughly discussed, reviewed, and voted on before they are enacted as laws.

The bill is drafted

Once the bill is drafted, it must be introduced. If a Representative is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the House. If a Senator is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the Senate. The House clerk assigns a legislative number for bills introduced in the House of Representatives (e.g. H.R. 1001) and the Senate clerk assigns a legislative number for bills introduced in the Senate (e.g. S. 1002). The bill is then sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) and copies are made.

Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate refers the bill to the appropriate committee. The actual referral decision is often made by the House or Senate parliamentarian. Bills may be referred to more than one committee and sometimes parts of a bill are sent to different committees. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees. Bills are placed on the calendar of the committee to which they have been assigned.

The committee will hold a "mark-up" session during which it will make revisions and additions. If substantial amendments are made, the committee can order the introduction of a "clean bill" which will include the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number and will be sent to the floor while the old bill is discarded. The chamber must approve, change or reject all committee amendments before conducting a final passage vote.

The bill is introduced

The introduction of a bill is a crucial step in the legislative process, marking its official entry into the political arena. This step involves several key procedures that lay the foundation for the bill's journey towards becoming a law.

Firstly, the bill must be drafted. Any member of Congress, from the Senate or the House of Representatives, can take the initiative to draft a bill. These ideas for laws can originate from the Congress members themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. It's important to note that citizens with ideas for laws can reach out to their Representatives to discuss their proposals, and if agreed upon, the Representatives will research and draft them into bills. The member of Congress who takes the lead in supporting the bill is called the "sponsor," and other members who lend their backing are known as "co-sponsors."

Once the bill is drafted and secured sponsorship, it is introduced in the House of Representatives if a Representative is the sponsor, or in the Senate if a Senator is the sponsor. This introduction is a formal presentation of the bill, marking its official entry into the legislative process. In the U.S. House of Representatives, this involves placing the bill in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. The House clerk then assigns a legislative number to the bill, such as "H.R. 1001" for bills introduced in the House.

Following the introduction, the bill is made publicly accessible on Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation. This step ensures transparency and allows citizens to follow the progress of bills that are under consideration.

The introduction of a bill is a significant milestone, as it signifies the transformation of an idea into a formal legislative proposal. It sets the stage for the subsequent steps in the law-making process, including committee review, subcommittee analysis, debates, and votes, all of which shape the bill's ultimate fate.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is sent to a committee. Committees are groups of Representatives or Congress members who are experts on specific topics, such as health, agriculture, education, or international relations. Both the House and the Senate have various committees.

The committee members carefully examine the bill and determine its chances of passage by the entire Congress. They may request reports from government agencies, gather expert opinions, and hold hearings to better understand the bill's implications and gather input from supporters and opponents of the legislation. The committee may also choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for further examination and hearings before sending it back to the committee for approval.

If the committee approves the bill, it is reported to the House or Senate floor, where it is ready to be debated and voted on. However, if the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead" and will not proceed further in the legislative process.

The committee plays a crucial role in reviewing, researching, and revising the bill before deciding whether to send it back to the House or Senate floor for further consideration and a vote.

Subcommittee review

During the subcommittee review stage, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered. Subcommittees are organised under committees and have further specialisation on a certain topic. Committees refer bills to a subcommittee for study and hearings. The subcommittee may make changes to the bill and must vote to refer a bill back to the full committee.

The subcommittee may request reports from government agencies, hold hearings so experts and interested parties have an opportunity to offer testimony regarding the issue, "mark up" or revise the bill, or report the legislation to the full committee for its consideration. The subcommittee may also choose to gather expert opinions and closely examine the bill to ensure that it is ready for the next stage of the process.

The subcommittee review is a critical stage in the legislative process, as it allows for further scrutiny and input from experts and interested parties. It ensures that the bill is thoroughly vetted and revised before moving forward. This stage also helps to identify any potential issues or concerns with the bill and allows for amendments to be made.

Committee mark-up

Once a bill has been introduced, it is referred to a committee. Committees are groups of Representatives or Senators who are experts on a particular topic, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee reviews, researches, and revises the bill before voting on whether to send it back to the House floor. If the committee requires more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee.

The committee mark-up session is when the committee meets to "mark up" the bill. They make changes and amendments before recommending the bill to the "floor". If the committee votes against reporting the legislation to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".

During the committee mark-up session, the committee will make revisions and additions to the bill. If substantial amendments are made, the committee can order the introduction of a "clean bill", which will include the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number and will be sent to the floor while the old bill is discarded. The chamber must approve, change, or reject all committee amendments before conducting a final passage vote.

Frequently asked questions