Understanding The Legislative Process: Bill To Law

The process of turning a bill into a law is a complex one that involves several steps and stakeholders. In the United States, all laws begin as bills, and the creation of laws is the most important function of the U.S. House of Representatives. A bill is a proposal that is debated by lawmakers and can be introduced by anyone in the country, although only Representatives can introduce them in the House. This article will explore the journey of a bill as it becomes a law, from its proposal to its approval by the House, Senate, and President. We will also discuss the role of committees and subcommittees in shaping the bill, the various voting methods used, and the power of the President to veto a bill.

The Bill Is Proposed

The first step in the process of a bill becoming a law is the proposal stage. This is where a bill starts as an idea, which can come from anyone. However, for it to progress, it needs to be presented by a senator or representative to the House or Senate. This person is known as the bill's sponsor. The sponsor will explain the problem and a probable solution, and they may work with other senators to create a solution if they don't have one already.

Once a bill has a sponsor, it needs to gain support from other Representatives. The Representative will talk with their colleagues about the bill, hoping to get their backing. This is an important step as it indicates the level of interest in the bill and whether it is likely to progress further.

When a bill has a sponsor and the support of some Representatives, it is ready to be introduced. In the U.S. House of Representatives, this happens when the bill is placed in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives can introduce bills at this stage.

The next step is for the bill to be assigned a number that begins with H.R. by a bill clerk. Then, a reading clerk will read the bill to all the Representatives, and the Speaker of the House will send it to one of the House standing committees.

The Bill Is Introduced

The process of a bill becoming a law begins with its introduction. 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.

Once a bill has been introduced, a bill clerk assigns it a number that begins with H.R. This number is a legislative number assigned to bills introduced in the House of Representatives. Following this, 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.

The process of introducing a bill is similar in the Senate. The Senate clerk assigns a legislative number for bills introduced in the Senate, which begins with S.

Before a bill is introduced, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill to get their support. The sponsor introduces the bill into the House of Representatives for consideration. Typically, a sponsor will want to ensure that other members of Congress will support the bill before they introduce it.

The Bill Goes to Committee

When a bill reaches the committee stage, it is assigned to a committee. This committee is made up of groups of representatives who are experts on the bill's subject matter. For example, the committee might include experts on agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee's job is to discuss, research, and shape the bill so that it is ready to become a law.

The committee will talk about the bill and make any necessary changes. They may also send the bill to a subcommittee, which will closely examine it and gather expert opinions before sending it back to the committee for approval. This process of revision is important to ensure that the bill is well-considered and ready for further debate.

The committee has several options when it comes to the bill. They can report favorably on it, recommending it goes forward. They can also rewrite it, amend it, or refuse to pass it on. If the committee takes no action on a bill, or decides to stop working on it, the bill is said to have "died in committee" and will not become a law.

Once the committee has finished its work, the bill is reported to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated by the full U.S. House of Representatives. This stage involves Representatives discussing the bill and explaining their reasons for supporting or opposing it.

The Bill Is Voted On

Once a bill has been debated, any final changes are made, and it has been reported, it is ready to be voted on by the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Voting Process

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

• Viva Voce (voice vote): The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it 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).

After Voting

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.

If the bill is rejected, it is sent back to the committee stage, where it can be revised and voted on again. If the bill is rejected again, it is said to have died in committee and will not become a law.

The Senate Stage

When a bill reaches the U.S. Senate, it goes through many of the same steps it went through in the U.S. House of Representatives. 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 the Senators say "yea," the bill passes in the U.S. Senate and is ready to go to the President.

The Bill Is Sent to the President

When a bill reaches the President's desk, it has already been through a long process. It will have been proposed by a Representative, introduced to the House of Representatives, gone through the committee stage, been reported to the House floor, been voted on, and then gone through the same process in the Senate. Now, the President has three choices:

Sign and pass the bill

If the President supports the bill, they can sign it, and it becomes a law.

Veto the bill

If the President does not support the bill, they can veto it, or refuse to sign it. The bill is then sent back to the House of Representatives, along with the President's reasons for the veto. If the House and the Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold 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.

Do nothing (pocket veto)

If the President does nothing, and if Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law. However, if Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days.

Frequently asked questions