Understanding Lawmaking: Bill To Law Worksheet

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one, with many steps and requirements. In the US, the creation of laws is the most important job of the House of Representatives. All laws start as bills, which can be proposed by any Representative or citizen. If a Representative agrees with a citizen's idea, they will research and write it into a bill. The bill then needs a sponsor and the support of other Representatives before it can be introduced. Once introduced, the bill goes through several stages of review, research, revision, and voting before it can become a law.

How a bill is introduced

The process of introducing a bill is the first step in the journey of an idea becoming a law. The process of introducing a bill is complex and requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders. Here is a detailed overview of how a bill is introduced:

The Initiation of a Bill

The process of creating a bill typically begins with a representative or a citizen. Representatives are responsible for drafting and writing the bill, outlining the specific details and legal implications. Citizens can propose ideas for laws to their representatives, who will then research and draft them into bills if they agree. This stage involves identifying a problem and proposing a potential solution. For example, Senator Tom Carper of Delaware and Senator George V. Voinovich of Ohio collaborated to create an energy bill.

Gaining Support

Before introducing a bill, representatives typically seek the support of their peers. They discuss the bill with other representatives to gain their backing. This step is crucial as it increases the likelihood of the bill's success during the legislative process. Representatives aim to find sponsors, who are legislators that support the bill.

Submission to the Hopper

Once a representative has gained sufficient support, they can introduce the bill into the House of Representatives for consideration. This is done by placing the physical document in a special box called the "hopper," located next to the clerk's desk. This step marks the official introduction of the bill into the legislative process.

Assignment to a Committee

After introduction, the bill is assigned to one or more committees related to its subject matter. These committees consist of members with experience, expertise, or interests in the relevant topic. The committees' goal is to study, discuss, and make necessary amendments to the bill. They may involve technical experts, lawyers, and policy analysts to assist in this process. Committees play a crucial role in shaping the bill before it moves forward.

Committee Action

The committee will carefully review the bill, discussing its merits and potential impact. They have the power to decide whether the bill should be amended, passed, or failed. If the committee takes no action or chooses to stop working on the bill due to a lack of support, it is said to have "died in committee," and it will not proceed further. However, if the committee approves the bill, it moves on to the next stage.

Presentation to the Full House

After the committee has completed its work, the bill is presented to the full House of Representatives. Typically, the committee head will give a presentation to the House, explaining the bill and any amendments made by the committee. This presentation is followed by a debate among the representatives, who may suggest further changes.

Voting in the House

Following the presentation and debate, the House of Representatives will vote on the bill. A simple majority (218 out of 435) is required for the bill to pass. If the bill receives a majority vote, it moves on to the next stage; otherwise, it fails to become a law.

In summary, introducing a bill involves initiating the idea, gaining support, submitting it to the hopper, assigning it to committees, committee action, presentation to the full House, and finally, voting in the House. This process is a crucial first step in the journey of an idea becoming a law, and it sets the stage for further legislative action.

The role of committees

Committees play a crucial and complex role in the process of a bill becoming a law. Committees are groups of representatives who are experts on specific topics, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. Once a bill is introduced, it is sent to a committee, which will review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether to send it back to the House floor. This stage is critical, as it is where the bill is shaped and moulded to ensure it is ready for further debate and voting.

The process

When a bill reaches a committee, the committee members will first discuss the bill and decide whether they need more information before making a decision. If they require additional details, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. In a subcommittee, the bill is closely examined, and expert opinions are gathered. Once the subcommittee has finished its work, the bill is sent back to the committee for approval.

The committee's decision

If the committee approves a bill, it is then sent, or reported, to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated. On the other hand, if the committee does not take any action on a bill or decides to stop working on it, the bill is said to have "died in committee", and it will not become a law.

The committee's analysis

The committee's analysis is a detailed and meticulous process. They may make revisions to the bill, and if substantial amendments are made, the committee can order the introduction of a "clean bill", which will include all the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number and will be sent to the floor, while the old bill is discarded.

The committee's report

After the committee has finished its work, it will prepare a written report explaining why they favour the bill and why they wish to see their amendments adopted. This report is sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar.

The committee's impact

The committee's work can have a significant impact on the fate of the bill. Their analysis, revisions, and recommendations can influence the subsequent debates and votes in the House and Senate. Ultimately, the committee plays a crucial role in shaping the bill and determining whether it has the potential to become a law.

The conference committee

If the conference committee reaches a compromise, it prepares a written conference report, which is then submitted to each chamber. The conference report must be approved by both the House and the Senate. Once the conference report is approved, the bill is sent to the President for review.

Quorum and voting

A quorum is the minimum number of members of a group or organization that need to be present at a meeting for the meeting to be considered valid. In the House of Representatives, a quorum is 218 members, while in the Senate, it is 51 members. However, the Senate can conduct daily business without a quorum unless it is challenged by a point of order.

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the House of Representatives: Viva Voce (voice vote), Division, and Recorded vote. In a voice vote, the Speaker of the House asks those in support of the bill to say "aye" and those opposed to say "no". In a division vote, the Speaker asks supporters of the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose it. In a recorded vote, Representatives record their votes electronically, choosing "yes", "no", or "present" if they don't want to vote.

In the Senate, there are two methods of voting: voice vote and recorded vote. Senators who support a bill say "yea", and those who oppose it say "nay". A recorded vote is taken electronically, and Senators have a minimum of 15 minutes to cast their votes.

The President's role

• Sign and pass the bill—the bill becomes a law.
• Refuse to sign, or veto, the bill—the bill is sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the President's reasons for the veto. If the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold 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.
• Do nothing (pocket veto)—if Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.

If a bill has passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and has been approved by the President, or if a presidential veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law and is enforced by the government.

Frequently asked questions