Understanding Lawmaking: Political Cartoon Breakdown

Political cartoons are often used to explain complex political processes in a simple and entertaining way. The process of how a bill becomes a law is a classic example, with the famous I'm Just a Bill cartoon from the 1970s Schoolhouse Rock! series being a well-known example. This cartoon, featuring a song by the same name, follows an animated piece of paper (the bill) explaining the legislative process to a young boy. While the cartoon presents a linear journey, the reality is often more complicated, involving behind-the-scenes negotiations and bipartisan cooperation. Despite this, the cartoon has become an iconic representation of the legislative process, with its impact being seen in popular culture references and parodies.

The Bill Is Proposed

The journey of a bill becoming a law begins with an idea. This idea can come from a Representative or even a citizen. If a citizen has an idea for a new law, they can contact their local Representative to discuss it. If the Representative agrees with the idea, they will research it and write it up in the form of a bill.

Once a Representative has written a bill, the next step is to find a sponsor. The Representative will talk to other Representatives to try to convince them to support the bill. This is an important step, as a bill needs the support of multiple Representatives to be introduced.

When a bill has a sponsor and the backing of several Representatives, it is ready to be introduced. In the U.S. 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.

After a bill is introduced, it is assigned a number that starts with "H.R." by a bill clerk. Then, a reading clerk reads the bill aloud to all the Representatives, and the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

The committee stage is a crucial step in the process. The committee members, who are groups of Representatives with expertise in relevant areas, review, research, and revise the bill. They may also choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for further examination and to gather expert opinions.

The Bill Is Introduced

The journey of a bill becoming a law begins with its proposal and introduction. This process starts with an idea, which can come from a Representative or a citizen. Citizens with ideas for new laws can reach out to their Representatives to discuss their thoughts. If the Representatives agree with the idea, they will research and develop it into a bill.

Once a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor. The Representative will discuss the bill with their peers, seeking their support. A bill needs the backing of other Representatives to be introduced. This step is crucial, as only Representatives are authorised to introduce bills in the U.S. House of Representatives.

When a bill has secured a sponsor and the necessary support, it is placed in the hopper—a designated box located beside the clerk's desk. At this point, the bill is officially introduced. A bill clerk assigns it a number starting with "H.R." to signify its origin in the House of Representatives.

The introduction of a bill is a significant milestone, marking its transition from an idea to an official piece of legislation. This stage sets the bill on its path through the legislative process, bringing it one step closer to becoming a law.

Following the bill's introduction, a reading clerk reads it aloud to all the Representatives. Subsequently, the Speaker of the House assigns the bill to one of the House standing committees. These committees play a crucial role in reviewing, researching, and revising the bill before it advances further in the legislative journey.

The introduction of a bill is a collaborative effort, requiring the support of multiple Representatives and the involvement of various House officials. It marks the beginning of a rigorous process that shapes the future of the proposed legislation.

The Bill Goes to Committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. This is perhaps the most important phase of the legislative process, as committees provide the most intensive consideration to a proposed measure as well as the forum where the public is given their opportunity to be heard. There are, at present, 20 standing committees in the House and 16 in the Senate, as well as several select committees. Each committee's jurisdiction is defined by certain subject matter under the rules of each House, and all measures are referred accordingly. For example, the Committee on the Judiciary in the House has jurisdiction over measures relating to judicial proceedings, immigration policy, bankruptcy, patents, copyrights, and trademarks.

In total, the rules of the House and of the Senate each provide for over 200 different classifications of measures to be referred to committees. Until 1975, the Speaker of the House could refer a bill to only one committee. In modern practice, the Speaker may refer an introduced bill to multiple committees for consideration of those provisions of the bill within the jurisdiction of each committee concerned.

In the Senate, introduced measures and House-passed measures are referred to the one committee of preponderant jurisdiction by the Parliamentarian on behalf of the Presiding Officer. By special or standing order, a measure may be referred to more than one committee in the Senate.

Membership on the various committees is divided between the two major political parties. The proportion of the Members of the minority party to the Members of the majority party is determined by the majority party, except that half of the members on the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct are from the majority party and half from the minority party. The respective party caucuses nominate Members of the caucus to be elected to each standing committee at the beginning of each Congress.

Members of the House may serve on only two committees and four subcommittees with certain exceptions. However, the rules of the caucus of the majority party in the House provide that a Member may be chairman of only one subcommittee of a committee or select committee with legislative jurisdiction, except for certain committees performing housekeeping functions and joint committees.

A Member usually seeks election to the committee that has jurisdiction over a field in which the Member is most qualified and interested. For example, the Committee on the Judiciary is traditionally populated with numerous lawyers.

Members rank in seniority in accordance with the order of their appointment to the full committee, and the ranking majority member with the most continuous service is often elected chairman. The rules of the House require that committee chairmen be elected from nominations submitted by the majority party caucus at the commencement of each Congress. No Member of the House may serve as chairman of the same standing committee or of the same subcommittee thereof for more than three consecutive Congresses, except in the case of the Committee on Rules.

The committees provide the most intensive consideration to a proposed measure as well as the forum where the public is given their opportunity to be heard. A tremendous volume of work, often overlooked by the public, is done by the Members in this phase. One of the first actions taken by a committee is to seek the input of the relevant departments and agencies about a bill. Frequently, the bill is also submitted to the Government Accountability Office with a request for an official report of views on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law. Normally, ample time is given for the submission of the reports and they are accorded serious consideration. However, these reports are not binding on the committee in determining whether or not to act favorably on the bill. Reports of the departments and agencies in the executive branch are submitted first to the Office of Management and Budget to determine whether they are consistent with the program of the President.

Many committees adopt rules requiring referral of measures to the appropriate subcommittee unless the full committee votes to retain the measure at the full committee.

Standing committees are required to have regular meeting days at least once a month. The chairman of the committee may also call and convene additional meetings. Three or more members of a standing committee may file with the committee a written request that the chairman call a special meeting. The request must specify the measure or matter to be considered. If the chairman does not schedule the requested special meeting within three calendar days after the filing of the request, to be held within seven calendar days after the filing of the request, a majority of the members of the committee may call the special meeting by filing with the committee written notice specifying the date, hour, and the measure or matter to be considered at the meeting. In the Senate, the Chair may still control the agenda of the special meeting through the power of recognition. Committee meetings may be held for various purposes, including the 'markup' of legislation, authorizing subpoenas, or internal budget and personnel matters.

A subpoena may be authorized and issued at a meeting by a vote of a committee or subcommittee with a majority of members present. The power to authorize and issue subpoenas may also be delegated to the chairman of the committee. A subpoena may require both testimonial and documentary evidence to be furnished to the committee. A subpoena is signed by the chairman of the committee or by a member designated by the committee.

All meetings for the transaction of business of standing committees or subcommittees, except the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, must be open to the public, except when the committee or subcommittee, in open session with a majority present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public.

The Bill Is Voted On

Once a bill has been proposed, introduced, and reported, it is ready to be voted on. In the U.S. House of Representatives, there are three methods for voting on a bill: viva voce, division, and recorded. In the viva voce method, the Speaker of the House asks Representatives to voice their support or opposition to the bill. In the division method, the Speaker asks those who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose it. In the recorded method, Representatives record their votes using an electronic voting system, with options to vote yes, no, or present if they choose not to vote. If a majority of Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House and is then delivered to the U.S. Senate.

In the Senate, the bill is discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor for a vote. Senators vote by voice, with supporters saying "yea" and opponents saying "nay." If a majority of Senators vote yea, the bill passes in the Senate and is sent to the President.

The President has three options at this point. They can choose to sign and pass the bill, in which case it becomes a law. They can refuse to sign or veto the bill, sending it back to the House along with their reasons for the veto. If the House and Senate still support the bill, they can hold another vote, and if two-thirds of Representatives and Senators back the bill, the veto is overridden and the bill becomes law. The President can also choose to do nothing, which is known as a pocket veto. If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days of inaction by the President. On the other hand, if Congress is not in session, the bill will not become law.

The Bill Is Sent to the President

Once a bill has been approved by both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, it is sent to the President. The President has three options: they can sign and pass the bill, making it a law; they can veto the bill, sending it back to the House with their reasons for doing so; or they can do nothing, in which case, if Congress remains in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become law.

If the President vetoes the bill, the House of Representatives and the Senate can still attempt to pass it. If two-thirds of both the Representatives and Senators support the bill, they can override the President's veto, and the bill will become a law.

The process of a bill becoming a law is more complex than is often portrayed in popular culture. For example, the well-known 1970s educational cartoon "I'm Just a Bill" from Schoolhouse Rock! simplifies the process, portraying a linear progression from a bill's proposal to its signing into law by the President. In reality, there are many more steps and complications, including behind-the-scenes negotiations, bipartisan cooperation, and the potential for a bill to be vetoed or altered.

The role of the President in the bill-to-law process is, therefore, a critical one. While the President can choose to simply sign a bill into law, they also have the power to veto it, sending it back to Congress and potentially derailing its path to becoming law. The President's choice to do nothing and allow a bill to become law after 10 days is also an important aspect of this process, highlighting the delicate balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of government.

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