Kara Sears
The process of how a bill becomes a law is a long and complex one. It involves multiple stages and stakeholders, from the initial idea to the final approval. The journey of a bill to becoming a law is a crucial aspect of governance and involves the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President. Understanding this process is essential for comprehending the legislative system and the creation of laws that govern citizens. This topic will be explored through a series of questions and worksheets, providing a comprehensive guide to the transformation of a bill into a law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Target Audience | Students in Grades 9-12 |
| Topics Covered | How a Bill Becomes a Law, Branches of Government, US Constitution, Committees, Voting, Vetoes, Public vs Private Bills, Sponsors and Cosponsors |
| Format | Worksheets with reading passages and questions, including multiple-choice and short-answer questions |
| Learning Activities | Rephrasing constitutional clauses, watching videos, writing down questions, adding verses to a song |
| Learning Objectives | Understanding the process of how a bill becomes a law, dissecting political jargon, Differentiating between public and private bills |
What You'll Learn
The role of the committee
Committees have several options when it comes to the bill. They can report favorably or unfavorably on it, or they can choose to rewrite or amend it. If the committee decides to take no action on a bill, or stops working on it, it is said to have "died in committee" and will not become a law.
If the committee requires more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. Here, it is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval. Once the committee has approved the bill, it is sent back to the House floor, where it is debated and any final changes are made before it is voted on.
The committee plays a vital role in shaping the bill and ensuring it is ready to become a law. They carefully consider the bill and make any necessary revisions to improve it. Their work is essential in the process of creating a well-informed and effective law.
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How a bill is proposed
The process of a bill becoming a law begins with its proposal. Anyone can write a bill, and ideas for new or changed laws can come from anyone. However, for a bill to have a chance of becoming a law, it must be presented by a senator or representative serving in a chamber. The person who presents the bill to the Senate or House of Representatives is known as the sponsor.
Before introducing a bill, a sponsor will typically ensure that other members of Congress will support it. To introduce it, the sponsor places the document in a box to the side of the clerk's desk, called the hopper. Once the sponsor knows that the bill has some support, they can introduce it into the House of Representatives for consideration.
If the bill is brought by a government minister, it is known as a government bill. If it is brought by a member other than a minister, it is known as a private member's bill. The Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel drafts the wording for all bills.
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How a bill is introduced
The process of introducing a bill begins with a sponsor—a representative or senator—who presents the bill to the House of Representatives or the Senate. The sponsor will first want to ensure that the bill has support from other members of Congress. To introduce the bill, the sponsor places the document in a box to the side of the clerk's desk, called the hopper. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study and discussion.
The committee will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. They may decide to amend it, pass it, or let it fail. If the bill is released by the committee, it is put on a calendar to be voted on and debated. If it passes this vote, it moves to the second congressional group (the Senate or the House of Representatives, depending on where it was introduced).
The bill is then assigned to another committee, which will further discuss and evaluate the bill. If released by this second committee, it is sent for a final vote and debate in the second congressional group. If it passes this vote, a conference committee made of House and Senate members will work to resolve any differences between the two versions of the bill.
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The bill goes to committee
Once a bill has been introduced, it is sent to a committee for review, research, and revision. This committee is made up of groups of representatives who are experts on topics relevant to the bill, such as agriculture, education, or international relations.
The committee's job is to thoroughly examine the bill and make any necessary changes before deciding whether to send it back to the House floor for further discussion and a vote. They may also choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for closer examination and to gather expert opinions before bringing it back for committee approval.
The committee has several options when it comes to the bill. They can report favorably on it, meaning they approve of it and send it back to the House floor. They can also report unfavorably, choosing not to take any action on the bill, which means it will not become a law and is said to have died in committee. Alternatively, they may choose to rewrite or amend the bill before sending it back to the House.
The committee plays a crucial role in shaping the bill and ensuring it is well-researched and ready for further debate and voting. Their expertise helps refine the bill and address any concerns or amendments before it moves forward in the legislative process.
If the committee approves the bill, it is then sent back to the House floor, where it will be debated and voted on by the full body of representatives. This is a critical step in the process of turning a bill into a law, as it requires careful consideration and a majority vote in favor for the bill to continue its legislative journey.
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The bill is reported
Once the committee has approved a bill, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. At this stage, the bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. During the debate, Representatives discuss the bill, explaining their reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend any necessary changes. Once all the recommended 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, division, and recorded. In the viva voce method, the Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those who oppose it to say "no". 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 the electronic voting system, and can vote yes, no, or present if they don't want to vote on the bill.
If a majority of Representatives vote 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. Here, it goes through many of the same steps it went through in the House. The bill is discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor to be voted on. Senators vote by voice, saying "yea" if they support the bill and "nay" if they oppose it. If a majority of Senators say "yea", the bill passes in the U.S. Senate and is ready to go to the President.
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