Cecily Zamora
Visual aids are often used to help explain complex processes, and the journey of a bill to becoming a law is no different. This transformation involves multiple steps and stakeholders, from the US House of Representatives to the President, and visual guides can help illustrate this process. A visual representation can effectively break down the journey of a bill, from its proposal to its enactment as a law, making it easier to understand and follow.
What You'll Learn
The Bill Is Proposed
The first step in the process of turning a bill into law is for a Representative to propose the bill. This can be initiated by a Representative or a citizen. Citizens who have ideas for new laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If a Representative agrees with a proposed bill, they will research the ideas and write them into a bill.
Once a Representative has written a bill, the bill needs a sponsor. The Representative will discuss the bill with other Representatives to try and gain their support. A bill needs the support of several Representatives to be introduced.
When a bill has a sponsor and the support of multiple Representatives, it is ready to be introduced. 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.
When a bill is introduced, a bill clerk assigns it 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.
The committees that review bills are composed of groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee members will review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee members would like more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee for further examination and to gather expert opinions.
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The Bill Is Introduced
The process of a bill becoming a law begins with the introduction of the bill. In the U.S. House of Representatives, this occurs when a bill is placed in the hopper, a special box located on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives have the ability to introduce bills in the U.S. House of Representatives. This marks the official start of a bill's journey to potentially becoming a law.
Once a bill is introduced, a bill clerk in the U.S. House of Representatives assigns it a unique number that starts with the letters "H.R.". This numbering system is specific to the House of Representatives and helps identify and track the bill as it progresses through the legislative process. The number assigned to the bill serves as a consistent reference point throughout its journey.
After the bill is numbered, the next step is for a reading clerk to read the bill aloud to all the Representatives. This ensures that every Representative is informed about the content of the bill and its proposed legislation. It also provides an opportunity for Representatives to start considering their positions and potential amendments.
Following the reading of the bill, the Speaker of the House assigns the bill to one of the House standing committees. These committees are groups of Representatives who possess expertise in specific areas relevant to the bill, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. Assigning the bill to a committee is a crucial step as it allows for a thorough review and discussion of the bill's merits and potential impacts.
The committee stage is an important aspect of the legislative process. The committee members carefully review, research, and revise the bill. They may seek additional information or expert opinions to make informed decisions. If the committee requires further details or specialised knowledge, the bill may be sent to a subcommittee for closer examination before returning to the main committee for final approval. This back-and-forth ensures that the bill is scrutinised from various angles and helps ensure that the legislation is well-considered and coherent.
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The Bill Goes to Committee
Once a bill has been introduced and given a number, it is sent to one of the House standing committees by the Speaker of the House. Committee members are groups of Representatives who are experts on specific topics, such as agriculture, education, or international relations. They review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether to send it back to the House floor.
If the committee members require more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. Here, the bill is scrutinised closely, and expert opinions are gathered before it is returned to the committee for approval.
The committee will then vote on whether to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee approves the bill, it is sent or reported to the House floor, where it can be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives.
The committee stage is crucial as it allows experts in the field to review and revise the bill, ensuring that it is well-informed and effective. This stage also provides an opportunity for gathering additional information and expert opinions through subcommittees, enhancing the likelihood that the bill will be sound and successful when it returns to the House floor for further debate and voting.
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The Bill Is Voted On
Once a bill has been introduced, assigned a number, read, and reported, it is ready to be voted on. The U.S. House of Representatives can vote on a bill in three ways: viva voce, division, or recorded. In the viva voce method, the Speaker of the House asks supporters of the bill to say "aye" and opponents to say "no". In the division method, supporters and opposers are asked to stand up and be counted. In the recorded method, representatives record their votes using an electronic voting system, selecting "yes," "no," or "present" if they don't want to vote. A majority vote is required for the bill to pass in the House. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and sent to the U.S. Senate.
The bill follows a similar process in the Senate, where it is discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor for a vote. Senators vote by voice, saying "yea" if they support the bill and "nay" if they oppose it. If a majority of Senators say "yea," the bill passes in the Senate and is ready to be sent to the President.
The President has three options at this point. They can sign and pass the bill, in which case it becomes a law. They can refuse to sign or veto the bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives along with their reasons for the veto. Or they can do nothing, which is called a pocket veto. If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after ten days of inaction by the President.
If the President vetoes the bill, but the House of Representatives and the Senate still believe it should become 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.
A bill becomes a law when it successfully passes through both Houses of Congress and is signed by the President or passed despite a presidential veto. This process can be challenging due to the numerous steps and decisions involved.
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The Bill Is Sent to the President
Once a bill has been approved by both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, it is sent to the President. At this stage, the President has three options. Firstly, they can sign and pass the bill, at which point it becomes a law. Secondly, they can refuse to sign or veto the bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives with their reasons for the veto. If the House and the Senate still believe the bill should become law, they can hold another vote, and if two-thirds of Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden and the bill becomes law. Thirdly, the President can choose to do nothing, a so-called 'pocket veto'. If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days of inaction by the President. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill will not become law.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is for the bill to be proposed by a Representative. Once written, the bill needs a sponsor and the support of other Representatives before it can be introduced.
The bill is placed in the hopper, a box on the side of the clerk's desk. A bill clerk then assigns it a number, and a reading clerk reads the bill to all the Representatives.
Committee members, who are groups of Representatives with expertise in specific areas, review, research, and revise the bill. They then vote on whether to send the bill back to the House floor or to a subcommittee for further examination.
The bill is then referred to the U.S. Senate, where it goes through similar steps, including being discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor for a vote.
Once a bill has been approved by both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate, it is sent to the President for approval. The President can choose to sign and pass the bill, veto it, or do nothing. If the President approves or takes no action for 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill becomes a law.
