The Journey Of A Bill To A Law In Maryland

In Maryland, the process of a bill becoming a law begins with its introduction and presentation by a legislator. The bill is then examined by a committee, which hears testimony from experts, public officials, and advocates. If the committee supports the bill, it moves to the floor of the chamber of origin for a vote. If passed, the bill is referred to the other chamber; if defeated, it dies. The other chamber may approve, reject, ignore, or amend the bill, after which it is sent back to the original house for concurrence. If the original house does not accept the amendments, a conference committee is appointed. For a bill to become a law, both houses must pass it in identical form. Once passed, the bill is sent to the governor for signature or veto. If the governor does not act within a limited period, typically 30 days, the bill automatically becomes law.

A bill is proposed by a representative or citizen

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, be proposed during their election campaign, or be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.

Citizens who have ideas for laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If the Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. When a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill in 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, 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.

Legislative staff aides draft the bill for the legislator's approval. Bills on most subjects may be introduced in either chamber during the first 55 days of a session. After that, a bill may only be introduced with the consent of two-thirds of the membership of the chamber in which it is to be introduced. The Maryland Constitution requires that a bill receives three "readings," and favourable votes in each chamber. When a bill is introduced, it receives its first reading. The title, sponsor, and committee assignment of the bill are announced.

The bill is introduced and assigned a number

In the state of Maryland, the process of a bill becoming a law begins with its introduction to the Maryland General Assembly, a two-chamber legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Delegates. The introduction of a bill typically occurs during the first 55 days of a session, after which a bill can only be introduced with the consent of two-thirds of the chamber members.

Once a bill is introduced, it receives its first reading, where the title, sponsor, and committee assignment are announced. The bill is then assigned a number, which, in the case of the U.S. House of Representatives, begins with "H.R.". This is a crucial step in the legislative process, ensuring that each bill is uniquely identified and tracked as it navigates through the legislative chambers.

The process of assigning a number to a bill is standardized and meticulously organized. The numbering system serves as a legislative tool, aiding in the efficient management and reference of bills. The number assigned to a bill becomes its permanent identifier, facilitating easy retrieval and review during the legislative process and beyond. This identifier is particularly useful when multiple bills are being considered simultaneously, helping to streamline the legislative workflow.

The bill number is typically a combination of letters and digits, with the letters indicating the chamber of origin and the type of bill, while the digits represent a unique identifier within that category. This numbering system allows for quick identification of the bill's source and nature, facilitating efficient legislative work and record-keeping.

In addition to the bill number, other codes or designations may be assigned to further categorize the bill. These codes can indicate factors such as the subject matter, the committee handling the bill, or its position in a sequence of related bills. These supplementary codes provide additional context, aiding legislators, staff, and the public in understanding the bill's content, its legislative journey, and its relationship to other bills under consideration.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Committee members are groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. They review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send the bill back to the House floor.

If the committee members would like more information before deciding, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. While in subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.

The committee holds a hearing to consider the bill. Anyone may testify at the hearing; written statements such as letters and emails from constituents may also be submitted. Later, the committee meets again to consider proposed amendments and to vote on the bill. The bill may be voted "favourable", "favourable with amendments", or "unfavourable". Alternatively, the bill may be referred for interim study. A bill referred for interim study will receive no further action before the next session.

If the bill receives a favourable committee vote, it will be sent to the full chamber. The bill and any amendments made by the committee are explained to the full chamber. The full chamber may debate the bill, and amendments may be offered from the floor. Votes are taken on the bill and any amendments; these are usually voice votes. If the bill passes the second reading vote, it is reprinted to incorporate the amendments.

The bill is reported to the House floor

When the committee has approved a bill, 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. This is a critical stage in the legislative process, as it provides an opportunity for the bill to be discussed and amended before it is voted on.

During the debate, Representatives have the opportunity to express their support or opposition to the bill. They may highlight the potential benefits or drawbacks of the proposed legislation and suggest changes they believe should be made. This back-and-forth discussion allows for a thorough examination of the bill and ensures that a variety of perspectives are considered.

After the debate, the bill is read section by section by a reading clerk. This ensures that all Representatives are clear on the specific provisions of the bill. Following the reading, Representatives can recommend changes or amendments to the bill. This is a crucial step, as it allows for further refinement and improvement of the bill before it proceeds to a vote.

Once all proposed changes have been considered and incorporated into the bill, it is finalized and ready for a vote. The voting process in the House of Representatives involves several methods, including voice votes, division, and recorded votes. Each of these methods ensures that the Representatives' opinions are accurately captured and recorded.

If the bill receives a majority vote in the House of Representatives, it will be certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the next stage of the legislative process: consideration by the U.S. Senate. However, if the bill fails to garner sufficient support in the House, it may be revised or rejected, depending on the specific circumstances and the nature of the opposition.

The bill is voted on

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill before it is put before the chamber to be voted on. The bill is then debated, and representatives explain why they agree or disagree with it. Amendments are recommended, and the bill is revised to incorporate these. Once all changes have been made, the bill is ready for a full chamber vote.

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 vote, the Speaker of the House asks those who support the bill to say "aye" and those who oppose it to say "no". In the division vote, the Speaker asks those in support of the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose it. In a recorded vote, representatives record their vote using an electronic voting system, and can vote yes, no, or present.

If a majority of the Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House of Representatives. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate. The process in the Senate is similar, with Senators voting by voice. Those in support say "yea", and those against say "nay". If a majority of Senators support the bill, it passes in the Senate and is ready to go to the President.

The President then has the choice to sign and pass the bill, refuse to sign or veto it, or do nothing (pocket veto). If the bill has passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and has been approved by the President, or if a presidential veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law.

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