The Making Of A Law: Ydc Bill Review

Creating laws is the most important job of the U.S. House of Representatives. All laws in the United States begin as bills, which are proposals for a new law or a change to an existing law. The process of a bill becoming a law involves several steps, including drafting, introduction, committee review, voting, and approval by the President. The bill must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President to become a law. This process ensures that laws are carefully considered and reviewed before being enacted.

A bill is proposed

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 suggested by citizens or citizen groups. Once a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill in the 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, it is assigned a number that begins with H.R. A bill 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.

In the U.S. Senate, members must gain recognition from the presiding officer to announce the introduction of a bill during the morning hour. If any senator objects, the introduction of the bill is postponed until the next day. The bill is then assigned a number (e.g. S 1) and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) for copying.

A bill is introduced

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. Once a bill is drafted, it must be introduced. If a Representative is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the House. If a Senator is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the Senate.

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.

In the Senate, members must gain recognition from the presiding officer to announce the introduction of a bill during the morning hour. If any Senator objects, the introduction of the bill is postponed until the next day. The bill is then assigned a number (e.g. S 1) and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) to be copied.

Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation.

A 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. The committee is chosen based on its subject matter expertise. For example, a bill about education would be sent to a committee of experts on education.

The committee may refer the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee may request reports from government agencies and hold hearings to gather testimony from experts, interested parties, supporters, and opponents of the bill. The subcommittee may then make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee.

The full committee will then meet to "mark up" the bill, making changes and amendments before recommending it to the "floor". If the committee votes against reporting the bill to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. If the committee votes in favor of the bill, it is reported to the floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".

The committee staff then prepares a written report explaining why they favor the bill and why they wish to see their amendments adopted. Committee members who oppose the bill may write a dissenting opinion in the report. The report is sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar.

A bill is reported

Once a bill has been approved by a committee, 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. Representatives will discuss the bill, explaining why they agree or disagree with it. A reading clerk will then read the bill section by section, and Representatives can recommend changes. Once all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

The process of debating and voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives involves three methods: 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 by saying "aye" or "no," respectively. In the division method, the Speaker of the House requests that supporters of the bill stand up and be counted, followed by those who oppose it. In the recorded method, Representatives use an electronic voting system to record their votes as yes, no, or present if they choose not to vote on the bill. If a majority of Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives and is then certified by the Clerk of the House before being delivered to the U.S. Senate.

After a bill is reported and debated, the next step is for the U.S. House of Representatives to vote on it. If the bill passes this vote, it moves on to the U.S. Senate for further consideration. The process of a bill being reported is a crucial step in its journey towards becoming a law, as it provides an opportunity for debate, amendments, and a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A bill is voted on

The journey of a bill to becoming a law involves several critical steps, and one of the most pivotal moments is when a bill is put to a vote. This stage is where the bill's fate is decided, and it marks a transition point where the bill either progresses toward enactment or faces rejection. The voting process is a structured procedure, often involving multiple rounds of voting and specific rules that govern how the voting unfolds.

When a bill reaches the voting stage, it has already navigated through the legislative maze, starting with its introduction by a legislator or congressperson. At this point, the bill has likely undergone revisions, amendments, and scrutiny by various committees. The voting process itself can vary depending on the legislative body and the specific rules they adhere to. In most cases, there are several votes, including votes in committees, subcommittees, and, ultimately, a final vote in the full legislative body.

During the committee votes, the bill's fate is decided by a smaller group of legislators who specialize in the subject matter or have a particular interest in the bill's content. These committees often make amendments and modifications to the bill, which are then voted on. This process can be lengthy and intricate, as committees may have differing opinions and priorities. Once a bill passes through the committee stage, it moves to the full legislative body for further votes.

The final vote on the bill is a decisive moment, and it typically requires a simple majority for the bill to pass. In some cases, a supermajority may be required, especially for more significant or controversial legislation. This voting process is usually conducted with strict procedures, ensuring that each legislator's vote is recorded and that the outcome is transparent and fair. After the final vote, if the bill passes, it moves on to the next stage of becoming a law, which often involves executive approval or review.

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