The Story Of A Bill's Journey To Becoming Law

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one. In the United States, a bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives or be proposed by citizens or citizen groups. Once a bill is introduced, it goes through several stages of review, discussion, and voting before it can become a law. This includes being assigned to a committee, undergoing revisions, and receiving approval from both chambers of Congress and the President. The President has the power to veto a bill, but Congress can override this in most cases. Understanding how a bill becomes a law is crucial for comprehending the legislative process and the functioning of government.

The bill is drafted

Once the 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 House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it is placed in the hopper—a box on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives can introduce bills in the House of Representatives. When a bill is introduced, it is assigned 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. Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation.

The bill is introduced

In the US 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 House of Representatives. Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on the official government website, Congress.gov, which tracks federal legislation.

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

In the Senate, the process is slightly different. 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 following day.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Committees are made up of groups of representatives who are experts on specific topics, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee members review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether to send it back to the House floor.

If the committee members need more information before deciding, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. In a subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered. The subcommittee may also make changes to the bill. The bill is then sent back to the committee for approval.

The committee will then meet to make any necessary changes and amendments to the bill before recommending it to the "floor". If the committee votes against the bill, it dies. However, if they vote in favour of it, it is reported to the floor. This is known as "ordering a bill reported".

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 significant impact on the bill's chances of passing. It is possible to bypass the Rules Committee in three ways: by suspending the rules (requiring a two-thirds vote), filing a discharge petition, or using a Calendar Wednesday procedure.

The bill is reported

When the committee has approved a bill, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. Once reported, a bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. This is a critical stage in the legislative process, as it provides an opportunity for the bill to be discussed and amended before it is put to a vote.

During the debate, Representatives discuss the bill, highlighting their agreement or disagreement with its content. This back-and-forth exchange allows for a thorough examination of the bill's merits and potential shortcomings. It also enables Representatives to propose changes and suggest improvements. This process is essential for refining the bill and ensuring that it addresses the concerns of those it will affect.

After the debate, a reading clerk reads the bill section by section. This ensures that every detail of the bill is understood and provides an opportunity for further clarification. At this stage, Representatives can recommend changes to the bill. All suggested amendments are carefully considered, and necessary modifications are made to the bill. This collaborative process is crucial in shaping the final version of the bill.

Once all the proposed changes have been incorporated, the bill is finalised and ready to be voted on. The voting process is the next critical step in the bill's journey towards becoming a law. It is during this stage that the support or opposition for the bill is formally quantified. The outcome of the vote will determine the bill's fate and whether it will progress to the next stage of the legislative process.

The voting process itself offers an interesting insight into the democratic system. 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, Representatives voice their support or opposition by saying "aye" or "no". The Division method involves those in support standing up to be counted, followed by those opposed. The Recorded method allows Representatives to confidentially record their vote using an electronic system, choosing "yes", "no", or "present" if they prefer not to vote.

The bill is voted on

Once a bill has been introduced, assigned to a committee, and reported to the House floor, it is ready to be voted on. There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The first method is viva voce, where the Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it say "no." The second method is division, where 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. The third method is recorded, where 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 U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate. The U.S. Senate also votes on the bill, and if it passes, it is ready to go to the President.

It is important to note that the process of voting on a bill may vary slightly between the House and the Senate. For example, the Senate may engage in more deliberation and debate prior to voting, as mentioned earlier. Additionally, the Senate votes by voice, with those in support saying "yea" and those opposed saying "nay."

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