The Legislative Process: How Bills Become Laws

The process of a bill becoming a law involves several steps and the participation of different entities within the US government. The journey of a bill to becoming a law begins with an idea, which can come from a member of the US Senate or House of Representatives, or even a citizen. This idea is then drafted into a bill, which is essentially a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. Once the bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee for research, discussion, and potential changes. After this, the bill is put before the chamber for a vote. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it moves to the other body to undergo a similar process. Once both bodies approve the bill, they work to reconcile any differences, and then both chambers vote on the final version. If the bill is passed, it is presented to the President for approval. The President can either approve the bill, turning it into a law, or veto it. However, in most cases, Congress has the power to override a presidential veto and pass the bill into law.

The bill is drafted

Once a bill is drafted, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill in the hopes of getting their support. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the Representatives, it is ready to be introduced.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it is placed in the hopper—a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives can introduce bills in the U.S. House of Representatives.

When a bill is introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill clerk assigns it a number that begins with H.R. A reading clerk then reads the bill to all the Representatives, and the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

The bill is then assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee members are groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The bill is reviewed, researched, and revised by the committee before being voted on to decide whether or not to send it back to the House floor.

The bill is introduced

The bill is then assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may be composed of groups of Representatives who are experts on particular topics, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee may also choose to hold hearings to better understand the bill's implications and gather the views of experts, public officials, and supporters and opponents of the bill. If the committee does not act on the bill, it is considered dead.

The bill is then reported to the House floor, where it is debated by the Representatives. Representatives discuss the bill and explain their reasons for supporting or opposing it. A reading clerk reads the bill section by section, and Representatives recommend changes. Once all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the House: viva voce, division, and recorded. In viva voce, the Speaker of the House asks supporters of the bill to say "aye" and opponents to say "no." In division, supporters are asked to stand up and be counted, followed by opponents. In recorded voting, Representatives record their vote electronically, selecting yes, no, or present if they do not wish to vote. If a majority of Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House and is certified by the Clerk before being delivered to the Senate.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. The committee is made up of groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee members review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the House floor. If the committee members would like more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. In subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.

Subcommittees are organized under committees and have further specialization on a certain topic. Committees may 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.

When the hearings and subcommittee review are completed, the committee will meet to "mark up" the bill. They make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the "floor". If a committee votes not to report legislation to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. If the committee votes in favor of the bill, it is reported to the floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".

After the bill is reported, the committee staff prepares a written report explaining why they favor the bill and why they wish to see their amendments, if any, adopted. Committee members who oppose a bill sometimes write a dissenting opinion in the report. The report is sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar.

In the House, most bills go to the Rules Committee before reaching the floor. The committee adopts rules that will govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered by the House. A "closed rule" sets strict time limits on debate and forbids the introduction of amendments. These rules can have a major impact on whether the bill passes. The rules committee can be bypassed in three ways: 1) members can move rules to be suspended (requires a two-thirds vote); 2) a discharge petition can be filed; or 3) the House can use a Calendar Wednesday procedure.

The bill is reported

Once a bill has been approved by a committee, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. Once reported, a bill 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. Then, a reading clerk reads the bill section by section and the Representatives recommend changes. When all 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 say or select 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.

The bill is voted on

Once a bill has been introduced, assigned to a committee, and reported back to the House floor, it is ready to be voted on. There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: Viva Voce, Division, and Recorded.

In the Viva Voce method, the Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it to say "no." In the Division method, 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. In the Recorded method, 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 say or select 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. In the U.S. Senate, Senators vote by voice. Those who support the bill say "yea," and those who oppose it say "nay." If a majority of the Senators say "yea," the bill passes in the U.S. Senate and is ready to go to the President.

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