The Legislative Process: Floor Action On Bills

The process of how a bill becomes a law involves several steps, and the journey begins with an idea. These ideas can come from a Representative or a citizen. Once an idea is formed, a Representative will draft a bill and seek a sponsor and the support of other Representatives. The bill is then introduced, and in the U.S. House of Representatives, this is done by placing it in the hopper, a special box on the clerk's desk. The bill is then assigned a number and read to all Representatives before being sent to a committee. The committee reviews, researches, and revises the bill, and may refer it to a subcommittee for further examination. The committee then votes on whether to send the bill to the House floor. Once on the House floor, the bill is debated, and changes are recommended before a vote is taken. If the bill passes, it is sent to the U.S. Senate, where it goes through a similar process. If the bill passes in the Senate, it is sent to the President. The President can sign and pass the bill, veto it, or do nothing. If the President does nothing for 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law. This process is known as a pocket veto if Congress is not in session. If the President vetoes the bill, it is sent back to the House, and if two-thirds of both the House and Senate support the bill, the veto is overridden, and the bill becomes law.

Bills are debated and amendments are proposed

Once a bill has been reported by a committee, it is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. During the debate, Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend changes.

During the debate, time is normally divided equally between the proponents and opponents of the bill. Each side yields time to members who wish to speak on the bill. When amendments are offered, these are also debated and voted upon. Amendments must be relevant to the subject of the bill.

After all debate is concluded and amendments decided upon, the House is ready to vote on final passage. In some cases, a vote to "recommit" the bill to committee is requested. This is usually an effort by opponents to change some portion or table the bill. If the attempt to recommit fails, a vote on final passage is ordered.

House and Senate members vote on their versions

Once a bill has been introduced and gone through the committee stage, it is sent to the House or Senate floor for further debate and approval. At this point, members may propose amendments to the bill, add additional text, or make other alterations. The bill is then ready to be voted on by the full chamber.

In the House of Representatives, there are three methods for voting on a bill: viva voce, division, and recorded. In the viva voce vote, the Speaker of the House asks Representatives to say "aye" if they support the bill and "no" if they oppose it. In the division vote, the Speaker asks those who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose it. In the recorded vote, Representatives record their vote using the electronic voting system, selecting "yes," "no," or "present" if they do not wish to vote on the bill.

In the Senate, members vote by voice, saying "yea" if they support the bill and "nay" if they oppose it.

If a majority of members in each chamber vote in favor of their respective versions of the bill, it is then sent to the other chamber for consideration. If either chamber does not pass the bill, it dies. If both chambers pass the same bill, it is sent to the President. However, if the House and Senate pass different bills, they are sent to a Conference Committee to work out the differences and reach a compromise.

Bills are approved by both Chambers of Congress

Once a bill has been drafted, it must be introduced. A bill can be introduced by any member of Congress, from either the Senate or the House of Representatives. The bill is then assigned a number (e.g. H.R. 1001 in the House of Representatives, or S. 1002 in the Senate). The bill is then sent to a committee, which will study and review it, and may refer it to a subcommittee for further examination. The committee will then meet to mark up the bill, making changes and amendments before recommending it to the "floor".

The bill is then returned to the full House or Senate for further debate and approval. At this point, members of Congress may propose amendments to the bill, add additional text, or otherwise alter it. The House and Senate members then vote on their respective versions of the proposed bill.

For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by both Chambers of Congress. If the Senate amends and agrees to a bill that the House has already passed, or vice versa, the two Chambers must resolve any legislative differences between their respective versions of the bill. This is done through a conference committee, which is made up of members from each house. The conference committee will work to negotiate and bargain, ultimately preparing a final compromise that must be agreed to by both chambers. This is known as a Conference Report.

If the Conference Report is approved by both the House and the Senate, the bill is then sent to the President for further review and approval.

The President can approve, veto, or do nothing

Once a bill has been approved by both chambers of Congress, it is sent to the President for review. The President can then choose to approve, veto, or do nothing.

If the President approves of the bill, they will sign it, and it will become a law. The bill will be delivered to the Office of the Federal Register at the National Archives, where it will be assigned a public law number and included in the next edition of the United States Statutes at Large.

If the President does not approve of the bill, they can veto it. In this case, the bill will be sent back to Congress, along with a note listing the President's reasons for the veto. Congress can then attempt to override the veto by holding 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.

The President also has the option to do nothing, which is known as a "pocket veto". If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days without the President's signature. However, if Congress adjourns before the 10 days are up and the President has not signed the bill, it will not become a law.

Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority

The process of a bill becoming a law involves several steps, and one of the final and most crucial stages is the president's approval. The president has the power to veto a bill passed by Congress, but Congress can override this veto and pass the bill into law without the president's signature. This action requires a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate. This process is a check on the president's power and allows Congress to push through a bill they strongly support.

The veto power is a significant tool for the president to influence legislation and shape policy. However, Congress's ability to override a veto ensures a balance of power between the two branches of government. The two-thirds majority requirement is a supermajority rule, which means it is a higher threshold than a simple majority. This rule is in place to protect the interests of the minority and prevent hasty decisions. It also ensures that for a veto override to occur, there must be broad support for the bill among legislators.

When a bill is vetoed by the president, it is sent back to Congress with a statement outlining the president's objections. Congress then has the opportunity to reconsider the bill and decide whether to attempt an override. If two-thirds of both the House and the Senate vote in favour of the bill, the veto is overridden, and the bill becomes law. This action limits the president's power and demonstrates the strength of congressional support for the legislation.

The process of overriding a veto showcases the complex dynamics between the executive and legislative branches of the US government. It highlights the checks and balances inherent in the system, where power is distributed to prevent one branch from dominating the other. While the president has the power to veto, Congress can push back with a supermajority vote. This process ensures that laws are passed with careful consideration and broad support, reflecting the interests of both the people and the government.

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