The Legislative Process: How Bills Become Laws

In the United States, a bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. The process of turning a bill into a law involves several steps, including proposal, introduction or sponsorship, committee review, floor debate, voting, and presidential approval. The bill must pass through both houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, before being presented to the President for approval. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto and turn the bill into law. This intricate process is the foundation of lawmaking in the United States, ensuring that ideas from citizens and representatives are carefully considered and refined before becoming laws.

Proposal: Anyone can propose a bill, but it must be introduced by a member of Congress

The process of turning a bill into a law begins with a proposal. Anyone can propose a bill, including citizens, citizen groups, lobbyists, and special interest groups. However, for a bill to be introduced, it must be sponsored by a member of Congress. This means that the idea for a bill can come from anyone, but it needs the support of a member of Congress to officially enter the legislative process.

Citizens who have ideas for new laws or changes to existing ones can contact their representatives to discuss their proposals. If a representative agrees with the idea, they will research and draft it into a bill. This step is crucial because it ensures that the legislative process is accessible to all citizens and allows for a wide range of ideas and perspectives to be considered.

Once a bill has a sponsor, the representative will seek support from other members of Congress. This step involves discussing the bill with colleagues and building a coalition of supporters. It is important to gain the support of other members of Congress because it increases the likelihood of the bill advancing through the legislative process.

After securing sponsorship and support, the bill is ready to be introduced. This is done by a member of Congress, who will place the bill in the "hopper," a special box on the side of the clerk's desk in the House of Representatives. At this stage, the bill is assigned a number that begins with "H.R." and is read out loud by a reading clerk to all members of the House.

The introduction of the bill marks the official start of its legislative journey. From here, it will go through several stages of review, discussion, and voting before it can become a law. This process is designed to be thorough and deliberative, ensuring that all aspects of the bill are carefully considered before it is enacted.

In summary, while anyone can propose a bill, the involvement of a member of Congress as a sponsor is essential to initiate the legislative process. This collaboration between citizens and their elected representatives ensures that laws are created with the input and support of the people they serve.

Introduction: A member of Congress introduces the bill, which is then given to the clerk of the House

The process of turning a bill into a law begins with the proposal of a bill. Anyone can propose a bill, although most legislation is proposed by members of Congress or the executive branch. Lobbyists and special interest groups also propose bills. All revenue and appropriation bills must start in the House.

The next step is the introduction of the bill, which is also known as "sponsorship". A member of Congress must introduce the bill in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. This is called the "first reading", during which only the title and bill number are read out loud.

If the bill is being introduced in the House of Representatives, it must be physically given to the clerk of the House, which is known as "dropping it in the hopper". The hopper is a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. A bill clerk then assigns it a number that begins with H.R.

If the bill is being introduced in the Senate, it is introduced during "morning hour", which is between 12 pm and 2 pm. The senator must also introduce the bill to the Senate clerk verbally.

On average, about 1000 bills become laws.

Standing Committee: The committee reviews, researches, discusses, and makes changes to the bill

Once a bill has been introduced, it is sent to a standing committee. This committee is made up of groups of representatives who are experts on specific topics, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee reviews, researches, and discusses the bill, and can also make changes to it. The committee's role is to ensure that the bill is thoroughly examined and that its potential implications are understood.

During this stage, the committee may refer the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. Subcommittees have a more specialized focus on a particular topic, and they can make changes to the bill before sending it back to the full committee. The committee may also hold hearings to gather input from the executive branch, experts, and other public officials, and to consider the views of supporters and opponents of the bill. These hearings provide an opportunity to consider different viewpoints and better understand the potential impact of the bill.

After the committee has completed its review, it will vote on whether to send the bill back to the House floor for further discussion and debate. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead" and will not proceed further in the legislative process. However, if the committee approves the bill, it is then reported to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated by the full House of Representatives.

The committee plays a crucial role in shaping the bill and ensuring that it receives the necessary scrutiny before advancing to the next stages of the legislative process. Their review, research, discussions, and potential changes help to refine the bill and address any concerns or amendments before it moves closer to becoming a law.

Floor debate: The bill is debated on the floor of the House of Representatives

The floor debate is a critical stage in the legislative process, where the bill is discussed and debated on the floor of the House of Representatives. This stage provides strong evidence of legislative intent as legislators engage in discussions and examine the specific language within the bill.

During the floor debate, the bill is considered by the full House, which can be a simple or very complex process. In general, a bill is ready for consideration by the full House after it has been reported by a committee. However, under certain circumstances, it may be brought directly to the floor without going through a committee.

The debate time for a bill is normally divided between proponents and opponents, with each side yielding time to their respective members who wish to speak. Amendments to the bill may also be offered during this stage, and they are also debated and voted upon. The specific rules governing the debate, such as time allocation and whether amendments are allowed, may be set out in a "rule", which is a simple resolution passed by the House.

The floor debate allows for a thorough examination of the bill and provides an opportunity for legislators to voice their support or opposition. It is a crucial step in ensuring that all aspects of the bill are considered before it proceeds further in the legislative process.

Once the debate is concluded and any amendments are decided upon, the House is ready to vote on the final passage of the bill. This vote can be conducted through an electronic voting system, a voice vote, or other methods, depending on the specific circumstances and requirements.

Vote: There are three methods for voting on a bill in the House of Representatives

Vote

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the House of Representatives. These are:

Viva Voce (voice vote): The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it to 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 vote "yes", the bill passes in the House of Representatives. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the Senate.

Frequently asked questions