The Hexagon Hustle: How Bills Become Laws

how a bill becomes a law hexagon

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one, and it varies slightly between different governments. In the US, the process begins with a bill being proposed by a member of the Senate or House of Representatives, or by a citizen or citizen group. The bill is then introduced and assigned a number, before being sent to a committee for research, discussion, and potential changes. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes, it goes through the same process in the other body. Once both bodies have voted to accept the bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions before voting on the same version of the bill. If it passes, it is presented to the president, who can either approve it, or veto it. If the president chooses to veto, Congress can vote to override this, and the bill becomes a law.

Characteristics Values
1 A bill is drafted
2 The bill is introduced
3 The bill goes to committee
4 Subcommittee review of the bill
5 Committee mark up of the bill
6 Voting by the full chamber on the bill
7 Referral of the bill to the other chamber
8 The bill goes to the president
9 Overriding a veto

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The President's role

  • Sign and pass the bill, thus making it a law.
  • Refuse to sign or veto the bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives along with the reasons for the veto. If the House and the Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote, and if two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto can be overridden, and the bill becomes a law.
  • Do nothing, which is also known as a "pocket veto". If Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.

It is important to note that if the President chooses to veto a bill, and Congress is unable to override the veto, the bill will not become a law.

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The Senate's role

The Senate plays a crucial role in the legislative process, with specific functions and powers outlined in the United States Constitution. Here is a detailed overview of the Senate's role in the process of a bill becoming a law:

Committee Review and Amendment

Once a bill is introduced in the House of Representatives and passed to the Senate, it is referred to relevant committees for review. The Senate, like the House, has various committees with specific areas of focus, such as health or international affairs. These committees play a vital role in scrutinizing and amending the bill. They conduct hearings, inviting experts, public officials, and stakeholders to provide testimony and gather insights on the bill's potential impact. The committees can make changes and amendments to the bill, ensuring it aligns with the Senate's priorities and addressing any concerns. This stage is crucial for shaping the final version of the legislation.

Voting and Approval

After the committee review process, the bill is brought to the Senate floor for a full chamber vote. Each Senator has one vote, and the bill must gain a majority to pass. Senators engage in debates, discussing the merits and potential drawbacks of the bill. This stage allows for further amendments to be proposed and voted on, refining the legislation based on the collective input of the Senators. The Senate's approval is essential for a bill to proceed further in the legislative process.

Conference Committee Participation

In cases where the House and Senate have passed different versions of a bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences. The Senate plays an active role in this committee, with Senators appointed to work alongside their House counterparts. They negotiate and collaborate to create a final version of the bill that addresses the concerns of both chambers. This committee process is crucial for reaching a consensus and ensuring that the final legislation is acceptable to both the House and the Senate.

Presidential Consideration

Once a bill is approved by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for consideration. The President has the power to approve or veto the bill. If the President approves, the bill becomes law. However, if the President vetoes the bill, the Senate, along with the House, has the power to override the veto. A two-thirds majority vote in both chambers is required to override the veto and enact the bill into law, demonstrating the Senate's critical role in this final stage.

Unique Legislative Powers

It is important to note that the Senate possesses unique legislative powers distinct from the House. While both chambers have equal legislative functions, the Senate has the exclusive authority to advise and consent to treaties and certain presidential nominations. Additionally, only the Senate can initiate legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties. These exclusive powers highlight the Senate's critical role in shaping foreign policy and providing checks and balances on the executive branch.

The Journey of a Bill to Law Visualized

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The House of Representatives' role

The House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the process of a bill becoming a law. Here is a detailed description of their role:

Idea and Proposal:

The process begins with an idea, which can come from a Representative or a citizen. Citizens with legislative ideas can reach out to their Representatives to discuss and develop these ideas. If a Representative agrees with a proposed idea, they will research and draft it into a bill. This Representative becomes the "sponsor" of the bill.

Introduction of the Bill:

Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of other Representatives, it is ready for introduction. In the House of Representatives, a bill is introduced by placing it in the "hopper," a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives can introduce bills in the House. The bill is then assigned a number starting with "H.R." and read aloud by a reading clerk to all Representatives.

Committee Assignment:

After introduction, the Speaker of the House sends the bill to a relevant House standing committee. These committees are groups of Representatives with expertise in specific topics like agriculture, education, or international relations.

Committee Review and Amendment:

The committee members review, research, and revise the bill. They may also hold hearings to gather expert opinions and understand the bill's implications. If further information is needed, the bill is sent to a subcommittee for more specialized review. Once the committee is satisfied, they vote on whether to send the bill back to the House floor, a process known as "ordering a bill reported."

Floor Debate and Amendment:

Once the bill is reported to the House floor, Representatives engage in a debate, explaining their agreement or disagreement with the bill. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and Representatives suggest changes. This process is crucial for refining the bill and addressing any concerns.

Voting on the Bill:

After all changes have been made, the House of Representatives votes on the bill. There are three methods for voting: viva voce (voice vote), division (standing up and being counted), and recorded (electronic) voting. If a majority of Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House and is then certified by the Clerk of the House.

Referral to the Senate:

After passing in the House, the bill is referred to the Senate, where it undergoes a similar process of committee review, debate, and voting. If the Senate also approves the bill, it moves on to the next stage.

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The role of committees

Committees play a crucial role in the legislative process, acting as gatekeepers and facilitators of a bill's journey towards becoming a law. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. These committees are groups of representatives with expertise in relevant areas, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. They carefully examine the bill, assess its implications, and determine its chances of passage by Congress.

If the committee requires additional information or further specialisation, the bill may be sent to a subcommittee. Subcommittees delve deeper into the bill, gathering expert opinions and making changes before sending it back to the committee for approval. This process ensures that the bill undergoes thorough scrutiny and revision before progressing further.

After the committee has completed its review, it will meet to "mark up" the bill. They will propose changes and amendments, and then vote on whether to report the bill to the full chamber of Congress. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is sent back to the chamber, a process known as "ordering a bill reported". On the other hand, if the committee votes against the bill, it dies and does not advance any further.

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The role of a congressperson

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which is a group of Congress members with expertise in a particular topic. The committee will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. They may also hold hearings to better understand the bill's implications and gather expert opinions. If the committee approves the bill, it is reported to the floor, where it is debated and voted on by the full chamber.

Congresspersons can also be involved in subcommittees, which are specialized groups organized under committees. Subcommittees can review bills, make changes, and vote to refer them back to the full committee.

After a bill passes one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body, including committee review, debate, and voting. If both bodies approve the bill, they work together to resolve any differences between their versions. The final bill is then presented to the President for approval.

Congresspersons play an essential role in shaping and advancing legislation, ensuring that bills are thoroughly reviewed, debated, and voted on before becoming laws.

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