Gavin Howe
The process of how a bill becomes a law in the United States is a complex one, with many steps and procedures to be followed. It involves the collaboration of the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President, all working together to shape and approve a bill before it can become a law. This journey begins with an idea, which can come from a Representative or even a citizen, who can propose their ideas to their Representatives. Once an idea is formed into a bill, it is introduced and assigned a number, before being sent to a committee for research, discussion, and potential changes. The bill then returns to the chamber to be voted on, and if passed, it moves on to the other body to undergo a similar process. If both bodies accept the bill, they must reconcile any differences, and then both chambers vote on the final version. If passed, the bill is presented to the President, who can approve and sign it into law or veto it. However, even if the President vetoes, Congress can override this decision in most cases, turning the bill into law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Where a bill comes from | A sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives or be proposed during their election campaign |
| Who can propose a bill | People or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them |
| What happens once a bill is introduced | It is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill |
| What happens after the committee stage | The bill is put before that chamber to be voted on |
| What happens 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 |
| What happens 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 |
| What happens when the bill reaches the president | The president can approve the bill and sign it into law. Or the president can refuse to approve a bill. This is called a veto |
| What happens if the president chooses to veto a bill | In most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto and the bill becomes a law |
| What happens if the president does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session | The bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress |
| Procedural differences between the Senate and the House | While both are equal in how they function, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation. And only the Senate can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties. While the House processes legislation through a majority vote, the Senate does so through deliberation and debate prior to voting |
What You'll Learn
How a bill is proposed
The process of a bill becoming a law begins with a proposal. Ideas 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 their Congressional representative. Once an idea for a bill has been established, the next step is to find a sponsor. The representative will talk with other representatives about the bill, with the aim of securing 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 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.
The committee members—groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations—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 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. Once the committee has approved a bill, it is sent—or reported—to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated.
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The bill is introduced
When a bill is introduced, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill, hoping to get their support. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the Representatives, it is ready to be introduced.
The Bill Goes to Committee
When the bill reaches the committee, the committee members—groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations—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 Bill Is Reported
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. 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.
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The bill goes to committee
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. The 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 it back to the House floor. If the committee members would like more information before deciding, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. While in the subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.
The committee has the power to kill a bill by simply refusing to act on it. Committees can also amend, table, or pass a bill as-is. Amendments are changes to the bill, while tabling means postponing any action on the bill. If the committee votes to table a bill, the bill dies. If the committee votes to pass a bill, it moves forward in the legislative process.
The committee system is designed to give legislators with expertise in a particular area a powerful role in shaping a bill. This can lead to bills becoming highly technical, as committee members add, remove, or change provisions to address specific concerns. The committee system also allows legislators to develop specialized knowledge, which can improve the quality of legislation.
The committee stage is a critical part of the legislative process. It is where bills are scrutinized, debated, and amended. This is also where interest groups have the opportunity to influence the bill. The committee stage can be lengthy, as committees often hold hearings and gather input from experts and the public.
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The bill is reported
Once 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.
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.
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The bill is voted on
Once a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee, it is then put before the chamber to be voted on. This is the first vote the bill undergoes.
There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: Viva Voce, Division, and Recorded. In a Viva Voce vote, the Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it to say "no." In a Division vote, 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 a Recorded vote, 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 vote or say 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.
Once a bill reaches the U.S. Senate, it is discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor to be voted on. 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.
If a bill has passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, it is then presented to the President. The President then considers the bill and has three choices. They can sign and pass the bill, in which case it becomes a law. They can refuse to sign or veto the bill, in which case it is sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the President's reasons for the veto. Or, the President can choose to do nothing, which is called a pocket veto. If Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law.
A bill is proposed by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to their Congressional representative.
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 it 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 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.
The president then considers the bill. The president can approve the bill and sign it into law, or they can refuse to approve it, which is called a veto. If the president chooses to veto a bill, Congress can vote to override that veto, and the bill becomes a law. However, if the president does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default, which is called a pocket veto.
