The process of how a bill becomes a law is a lengthy one and differs slightly between the local, state, and federal levels of government. In the United States, 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. Once introduced, a bill is assigned to a committee, studied, and discussed before being put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes, the bill goes to the other chamber, and the process begins again. This back-and-forth continues until both chambers agree on the same version, which is then sent to the Executive Branch for signing. If signed, the bill becomes a law.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Idea for a bill | Sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives or proposed during their election campaign |
How a bill is introduced | In the House or Senate |
What happens after introduction | Studied, witnesses testify for and against it, information is gathered |
What happens if it passes initial scrutiny | Sent to the full chamber to debate and vote on |
What happens if it passes the vote | Goes to the other chamber and the process begins again |
What happens if the second chamber makes changes to the bill | Goes back to the original chamber for a vote on the amended version |
What happens when both chambers agree on the same version | Sent to the Executive Branch for signing |
What happens when the Executive Branch approves the bill | It becomes a law |
What happens when the Executive Branch refuses to approve the bill | Veto |
What happens when the Executive Branch vetoes the bill | In most cases, Congress can vote to override the veto and the bill becomes a law |
What happens when the Executive Branch does not sign off on the bill and Congress is no longer in session | The bill will be vetoed by default (called a pocket veto) and cannot be overridden by Congress |
What You'll Learn
Bills are proposed by US Senate or House members
Bills are the means by which legislation is introduced in the Ohio General Assembly. They are proposed by members of the US Senate or House of Representatives, or by candidates during their election campaigns. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress.
In the Ohio General Assembly, bills are consecutively numbered within the House (H.B.) and Senate (S.B.), starting with 1 at the beginning of each new General Assembly. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.
If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. This back-and-forth process continues until both chambers agree on the same version.
The process is similar at the state level, with bills introduced in either chamber of the Legislature. If the bill survives the initial scrutiny, it is sent to the full chamber to debate and vote on. If it passes this stage, the bill goes to the other chamber, and the process begins again. If the second chamber makes changes to the bill, it goes back to the original chamber for a vote on the amended version.
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Bills are assigned to a committee for research and discussion
Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. Committees are an essential part of the legislative process, as they provide an opportunity for in-depth analysis and deliberation on the bill's content. This process ensures that the bill is thoroughly vetted and refined before being presented to the full chamber for a vote.
At the state level, such as in the Ohio General Assembly, bills are typically assigned to committees after being introduced in the House or Senate. These committees play a crucial role in shaping the legislation by holding hearings, gathering information, and receiving testimonies from witnesses for and against the bill. The committee's findings are then reported back to the House or Senate through committee reports, which outline their research, discussions, and any proposed amendments.
The committee process allows for a more detailed examination of the bill's potential impact and feasibility. It provides a platform for stakeholders and experts to share their insights and for legislators to ask questions and seek clarification. This back-and-forth discussion helps identify strengths and weaknesses, address concerns, and make necessary revisions to the bill.
In some cases, a bill may be assigned to multiple committees, each focusing on different aspects of the legislation. This ensures that complex or far-reaching bills receive a comprehensive review. The number and types of committees involved can vary depending on the nature and scope of the bill.
The committee stage is a critical step in the legislative process, as it shapes the final version of the bill that will be presented to the full chamber. It allows for a more informed and thoughtful debate, ensuring that legislators have access to expert opinions and a thorough understanding of the bill's implications before casting their votes.
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Bills are voted on by the chamber
Once a bill has been introduced and studied, it is sent to the full chamber to be voted on. Bills are voted on by the chamber after being debated. If the bill survives the debate and vote, it will be sent to the other chamber, where the process begins again. If the second chamber amends the bill, it will be sent back to the original chamber for a vote on the amended version. This back-and-forth process will continue until both chambers agree on the same version of the bill.
In the United States, bills can be introduced in either chamber of the Legislature. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both bodies have voted to accept the bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions, and then both chambers will vote on the same version of the bill.
At the State level, the process of how a bill becomes law is very similar to the Federal level. Bills are numbered consecutively within the House (H.B.) and Senate (S.B.).
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Bills are sent to the other chamber for the same process
Once a bill has been introduced, studied, and passed in one chamber, it is sent to the other chamber (the other body of Congress) to undergo the same process. This means that the bill will be assigned to a new committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill will then be put before the full chamber to be debated and voted on. If the bill passes this stage, it will be sent back to the original chamber if changes have been made to the content. This back-and-forth process will continue until both chambers agree on the same version of the bill.
In the US, this process is followed on all levels of government, from local to national. It is also similar at the state level and the federal level.
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Bills are presented to the president to be signed into law
Bills are proposed pieces of legislation that can be introduced by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or be proposed during their election campaign. They can also be petitioned by citizens or groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and makes changes to it. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must agree on a single version of the bill. Then, both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.
The president then has the power to approve or veto the bill. If the president approves the bill, they will sign it into law. However, if the president refuses to approve it, this is called a veto. In most cases, Congress can vote to override a veto, and the bill will still become a law. But if the president does not sign off on a bill and Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be pocket vetoed, meaning it is vetoed by default and cannot be overridden.
In Ohio, once a bill is approved by both the House and the Senate, it becomes an Act and is presented to the Governor to be signed into law. This process is similar at the Federal level, where the bill is presented to the President to be signed into law.
The process of a bill becoming a law is a lengthy and detailed procedure. It involves extensive research, discussion, and debate at multiple levels of government. The transformation of a bill into a law requires approval and agreement from both chambers of Congress and, ultimately, the signature of the President.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president to be signed into law.
The process for a bill to become a law in Ohio is similar to the federal process. Bills are introduced in the Ohio General Assembly and are assigned H.B. or S.B. numbers. They are studied, discussed, and voted on by the assembly. If the bill passes, it is sent to the other body to go through the same process. Once both bodies have agreed on a version of the bill, it is presented to the Governor to be signed into law.
The first step in the legislative process is for the bill to be studied. Witnesses testify for and against the bill, and information is gathered on the topic.
One example of a bill that became a law is the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, which was signed into law on December 20, 2018. This bill continued many programs established in previous bills and made multiple changes.