Understanding Lawmaking: A Bill's Journey To Legislation

Teaching students about how a bill becomes a law can be challenging, as the legislative process is complex and time-consuming. However, it is an essential topic in civics and government education. To make the lesson more engaging, teachers can incorporate collaborative activities, such as sorting activities, where students put the steps of a bill becoming a law into order. This not only helps students gain a deeper understanding of the process but also provides context for the role of Congress and the importance of representative democracy. By breaking down the process into manageable steps and incorporating visual aids, games, and current examples, educators can make the legislative process more accessible and intriguing for their students.

The bill is drafted and introduced

The bill-drafting process begins with an idea, which can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or be proposed by citizens or citizen groups. Citizens can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas, and if the Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. The bill is then assigned a sponsor, who is the primary Congress member supporting the bill. The sponsor will talk to other Representatives to gain their support, and these Representatives become co-sponsors.

Once the 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. A bill clerk then assigns it a number that begins with H.R., and a reading clerk reads the bill to all the Representatives. The Speaker of the House then sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

In the U.S. Senate, the bill is introduced in the Senate. Upon introduction, the bill will receive a designation based on the chamber of introduction, for example, H.R. or H.J.Res. for House-originated bills or joint resolutions and S. or S.J.Res. for Senate-originated measures. It will also receive a number, which is usually the next number available in sequence during that two-year Congress.

The bill goes to committee

The bill goes to a committee, which is a group of Representatives or Senators who are experts on the topic of the bill. For example, a bill about agriculture would be sent to a committee of members with expertise in that area. The committee reviews, researches, debates, and revises the bill. Committees can also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather expert opinions. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead".

Committees can refer bills to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. Subcommittees can make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee. Once the subcommittee review is complete, the full committee will meet to make changes and amendments to the bill. This is called a "mark-up" session. If the committee votes in favor of the bill, it is reported to the floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".

After the bill is reported, the committee staff 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.

In the House, most bills go to the Rules Committee before reaching the floor. The Rules Committee adopts rules that will govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered by the House. These rules can have a major impact on whether the bill passes. For example, a "closed rule" sets strict time limits on debate and forbids the introduction of amendments. The Rules Committee can be bypassed in three ways: 1) members can move to suspend the rules (requiring a two-thirds vote); 2) a discharge petition can be filed; or 3) the House can use a Calendar Wednesday procedure.

The Bill Is Voted On

Once the bill reaches the floor, there is additional debate, and members of the full chamber vote to approve any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members' voting. There are several methods for voting on a bill in the House, including viva voce (voice vote), division, and recorded votes. If a majority of members vote yes, the bill passes in the House and is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the Senate.

The bill is reported

Once a bill has been approved by the committee, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported". Once reported, the bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives.

During the debate, Representatives discuss the bill and explain their reasoning for agreeing or disagreeing with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and Representatives recommend changes. Once 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), Division, and Recorded. In a voice vote, the Speaker of the House asks supporters of the bill to say "aye" and opponents to say "no". In a Division vote, supporters and opponents are asked to stand up and be counted. In a Recorded vote, Representatives record their vote using the electronic voting system, selecting "yes", "no", or "present" if they do not want to vote.

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.

The bill is voted on

Once a bill has been introduced, assigned a number, and read by a reading clerk, it is sent to a committee. The committee members review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the House floor. If the committee members require more information, the bill is sent to a subcommittee for further examination and to gather expert opinions.

After the bill has been approved by the committee, it is sent back to the House floor for debate. Representatives discuss the bill, explaining their agreement or disagreement with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and Representatives recommend any final changes. Once 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), Division, and Recorded. In a voice vote, the Speaker of the House asks those who support the bill to say "aye" and those who oppose it to say "no". In a Division vote, supporters of the bill are asked to stand up and be counted, and then the same is done for those who oppose it. In a Recorded vote, Representatives record their vote using an electronic voting system, selecting "yes", "no", or "present" if they do not wish to vote.

If a majority of Representatives vote "yes", the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives. It is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate, where it goes through a similar process of committee review, debate, and voting.

The bill is sent to the President

Once a bill has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is sent to the President for review. The President has three options: they can sign and pass the bill, which becomes a law; they can veto the bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives with their reasons for the veto; or they can do nothing, which is known as a "pocket veto".

If the President chooses to veto the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto by holding another vote. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law.

If the President does nothing and Congress remains in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill will not become a law. This is also known as a "pocket veto" and cannot be overridden by Congress.

It is important to note that the President's role in this process is significant, as they have the power to either approve or veto a bill. While Congress can override a veto, it requires a significant majority in both the House and the Senate.

Frequently asked questions