The Law-Making Journey: A Guide For Young Explorers

Did you know that every law in the United States starts as an idea? This idea can come from anyone, from the President to a citizen like you! A law is created to keep order and protect the people of the country. But how does an idea become a law? Well, it's not so easy. An idea must first be written down and explained, and this first draft is called a bill. A bill then needs a member of Congress to sponsor it—someone who believes in the bill and wants to see it become a law. The journey of a bill from being proposed to becoming a law is a long and difficult one, and only about 10% of bills make it through. So, are you ready to find out how a bill becomes a law?

How a bill is proposed and introduced

So, you want to know how a bill is proposed and introduced? Well, it all starts with an idea. This idea can come from anyone—a member of Congress, the President, a special interest group, or even a citizen like you! If you have an idea for a new law, you can contact your Representative to discuss it. If they like your idea, they'll do some research and write it up as a bill.

Now, this bill needs a sponsor. The Representative will talk to other Representatives about the bill, hoping to get their support. Once the bill has a sponsor and the support of some other Representatives, it's ready to be introduced.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it's placed in the hopper, a special wooden box on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives can introduce bills in the House. Once the bill is in the hopper, a bill clerk gives it a number that starts with H.R. Then, a reading clerk reads the bill out loud to all the Representatives, and the Speaker of the House sends it to a committee.

The committee is a group of Representatives who are experts on the topic of the bill. They will review, research, and make changes to the bill before voting on whether to send it back to the House floor for a full vote. If they need more information, they might send the bill to a subcommittee first for a closer look.

Once the committee is happy with the bill, they'll send it back to the House floor for a debate and a vote. This is when all the Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. After that, the bill is ready to be voted on!

The bill goes to committee

Once a 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 review, research, and revise the bill. They might send the bill to a subcommittee, which will take a closer look at the bill and gather expert opinions before sending it back to the committee. The committee will then decide whether to send the bill back to the House floor for a vote.

The Work of the Committee

When a bill goes to committee, it is carefully examined by the group of Representatives who make up the committee. They will look at the bill in detail, considering its potential impact and how it might need to be changed. The committee members might also hear from experts in the field or people who would be affected by the bill. This process is important because it helps to ensure that the bill is well-written and takes into account the views of those who understand the issue best. The committee can also suggest changes, known as amendments, to the bill. These amendments might clarify the bill's language, address concerns, or improve its effectiveness.

The Subcommittee

In some cases, the committee might decide to send the bill to a subcommittee. A subcommittee is a smaller group of Representatives who focus on a specific aspect of the bill. They will examine the bill in even greater detail and may hold hearings to gather input from experts and stakeholders. This step ensures that the bill receives a thorough review and that all relevant information is considered. Once the subcommittee has completed its work, it will send the bill back to the full committee, along with any recommendations or amendments.

The Committee Vote

After the committee has finished reviewing and revising the bill, it's time for them to vote. Each member of the committee will cast their vote, and the bill will need a majority of votes in favor to pass. If the committee approves the bill, it will be reported back to the House floor, where it will be debated and voted on by all the Representatives. However, if the committee does not approve the bill, it may be sent back to the sponsor for further revisions or could even be stopped from progressing any further.

The Importance of Committees

The committee stage of a bill's journey is crucial as it helps to ensure that bills are thoroughly vetted and improved before they move forward in the legislative process. Committees provide an opportunity for experts in the field to weigh in and for potential issues or concerns to be identified and addressed. By the time a bill leaves the committee, it should be well-crafted and ready for further debate and consideration by the full House. This step in the process highlights the careful deliberation and attention to detail that goes into lawmaking.

The bill is reported

When a bill has been reviewed, researched, and revised by a committee, it is then approved and sent to the House floor. This is when we say that the bill is reported. Once reported, the bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives.

During the debate, Representatives discuss the bill and explain their points of agreement or disagreement. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend changes. Once all the recommended 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 who oppose it to say "no."
• Division: The Speaker asks those who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose it.
• Recorded: Representatives record their vote using an electronic voting system. They 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. It is then certified by the Clerk of the House and sent to the U.S. Senate, where it will go through a similar process.

The bill is voted on

So, the bill is all written and ready to go. But it's not as simple as just voting yes or no. There are a few different ways to vote on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House might ask the Representatives to say "aye" if they agree, or "no" if they don't. Or, the Speaker might ask those who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then do the same for those who don't support it. Finally, Representatives can record their vote using a special electronic voting system. They can vote yes, no, or "present" if they don't want to vote at all.

If most Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House of Representatives. Then, it's sent to the U.S. Senate, where it will be discussed and voted on again. Senators vote by saying "yea" if they agree, or "nay" if they don't. If most Senators say "yea", the bill passes in the Senate and goes to the President.

The President has the final say on whether a bill becomes a law. The President can choose to sign the bill and pass it, turning it into a law. Or, the President can refuse to sign it, which is called a veto. If this happens, the bill goes back to the House of Representatives, along with the President's reasons for not signing it. The House of Representatives and the Senate can then vote on the bill again. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto can be ignored, and the bill becomes a law anyway.

The President might also choose to do nothing, which is called a "pocket veto". If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become a law after 10 days of the President doing nothing. But, if Congress is not in session, the bill won't become a law.

The bill is sent to the President

When a bill reaches the President, it's almost at the end of its journey to becoming a law. The President has three choices: they can sign and pass the bill, which means it becomes a law; they can refuse to sign, or veto, the bill, which means it goes back to the House of Representatives; or they can do nothing, which is called a pocket veto.

If the President chooses to veto the bill, they must also send their reasons for doing so to the House of Representatives. If the Representatives and Senators still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote on it. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law anyway.

If the President does nothing, the bill will automatically become a law after 10 days, as long as Congress is in session. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.

So, the President has a very important role in deciding whether a bill becomes a law, but they are not the only ones who get to decide. The Representatives and Senators can override a presidential veto if they feel strongly enough about the bill.

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