The Us Law-Making Process: Bills To Laws

The process of turning a bill into a law in the United States is a complex one. It involves multiple stages and stakeholders, from the initial idea to the final signature. A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one, and it can be initiated by a member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or even by citizens and advocacy groups. The journey of a bill to becoming a law includes steps such as finding a sponsor, being introduced and assigned to a committee, undergoing debates and votes, and finally, reaching the President's desk for approval or veto. This process ensures that laws are carefully considered and can often be lengthy, with bills sometimes undergoing significant changes along the way.

Bills are drafted by Congress members or citizens

Bills are the starting point for any new law in the United States. They can be drafted by anyone, but only a member of Congress can introduce a bill for consideration. The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.

The member of Congress who introduces a bill is known as the "sponsor". If other members of Congress support the bill, they are called "co-sponsors". 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.

The process of introducing a bill is slightly different in the House and the Senate. In the House, 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. The bill is then assigned a number that begins with H.R. by a bill clerk, 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 Senate, a Senator usually introduces a bill by presenting it to one of the clerks at the Presiding Officer's desk, without commenting on it from the floor of the Senate. Alternatively, a Senator can use a more formal procedure by rising and introducing the bill from the floor, usually accompanied by a statement about the measure.

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. Committees are composed of groups of Congress members who are particularly interested in different topics, such as health or international affairs. The committee chair decides where the bill goes next and can refer the bill to one or more subcommittees for further review.

Bills are introduced and assigned a number

Bills are introduced in the House of Representatives when they are placed in the hopper, a wooden box on the House floor, or handed to the clerk of the House. In the Senate, a member must gain recognition from the presiding officer to announce the introduction of a bill during the morning hour. If any senator objects, the introduction is postponed until the following day. Once introduced, a bill is assigned a number, typically the next number in sequence during that two-year Congress. For example, House-originated bills are given the designation H.R. or H.J.Res., followed by a number, while Senate-originated bills are assigned S. or S.J.Res.

The bill is then labelled with the name of its sponsor, the representative who wrote and introduced it. At this stage, members can cosponsor the bill. The sponsor will talk to other representatives to try to gain their support. The bill is then sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) to be copied.

The Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate will refer the bill to the appropriate committee. In the House, this usually involves referring the bill to multiple committees, each of which may work on the portion of the bill under its jurisdiction. One of these committees will be designated the primary committee of jurisdiction and will lead on any action. In the Senate, the bill is usually referred to only one committee.

Bills are sent to a committee for review

Once a bill has been introduced, it is sent to a committee for review. In the House, the Speaker refers the bill to all committees that have jurisdiction over the provisions in the bill. Most bills fall under the jurisdiction of one committee, but if multiple committees are involved, each committee will only work on the portion of the bill under its jurisdiction. One of these committees will be designated the primary committee of jurisdiction and will lead on any action. In the Senate, bills are usually referred to just one committee—the one with jurisdiction over the issue that predominates in the bill.

The committee members are groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. They review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the House floor.

The first step in this process is usually a public hearing, where the committee members hear witnesses representing various viewpoints on the bill. Each committee makes public the date, place, and subject of any hearing it conducts. After the hearing is completed, the bill is considered in a session that is popularly known as the "mark-up" session. Members of the committee study the viewpoints presented in detail. Amendments may be offered, and the committee members vote to accept or reject these changes.

If the committee members would like more information before deciding, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. While in subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.

After 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.

Bills are voted on by the House or Senate

Once a bill has been introduced, assigned to a committee, and reported to the House floor, it is ready to be voted on.

Voting on the Bill

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).

If a majority of the Representatives say or select 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.

Voting in the Senate

When a bill reaches the U.S. Senate, it is discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor to be voted on. Senators vote by voice. Those who support the bill say “yea,” and those who oppose it say “nay.” If a majority of the Senators say “yea,” the bill passes in the U.S. Senate.

Voting to Override a Veto

If the President chooses to veto a bill, in most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto, and the bill becomes a law. If the President does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress.

Bills are sent to the President for approval

Once a bill has been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is sent to the President for approval. 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 and the Senate, along with their reasons for the veto; or they can do nothing, which is called a pocket veto.

If the President chooses to sign the bill, it becomes a law. If they veto it, Congress can attempt to override the veto by holding another vote on the bill. 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, the outcome depends on whether Congress is in session. If Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law, and the President's inaction is considered a pocket veto. A pocket veto cannot be overridden by Congress.

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