The Lawmaking Process: Senate And House Worksheet Guide

The process of turning a bill into a law is a long and complex one, with many steps and potential obstacles. In the United States, the creation of laws is the most important function of the House of Representatives. All laws begin as ideas, which can come from a Representative or a citizen. These ideas are then written into bills, which are proposed and introduced to the House of Representatives. Once introduced, a bill is assigned to a committee for study and revision before being reported to the House floor for debate and voting. If a bill passes in the House, it is sent to the Senate, where it goes through a similar process. If the Senate passes the bill, it is sent to the President, who can choose to sign and pass it, veto it, or do nothing. If the President vetoes the bill, it is sent back to the House of Representatives, where it can be voted on again. If the bill passes in both the House and the Senate, the President's veto can be overridden, and the bill becomes a law.

How a bill is introduced

The process of introducing a bill is the first step in the legislative process. Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of the President, such as the annual federal budget.

In the 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. The bill is then assigned a number that begins with H.R. and given the name of the sponsor. It is then sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) and copies are made.

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 following day. The bill is then assigned a number (e.g. S 1) and sent to the GPO. Senate bills can be jointly sponsored and members can cosponsor the legislation.

Once a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee for review. There are 17 Senate committees, with 70 subcommittees, and 23 House committees, with 104 subcommittees. Committees and subcommittees call hearings to investigate the merits and flaws of the bill, inviting experts, advocates, and opponents to provide testimony.

The role of the committee

The committees review, research, and revise the bill, and may send the bill to a subcommittee for further examination and to gather expert opinions. Committees may also hold hearings and request comments about the bill's merit from government agencies. Once the committee has finished its review, it votes on whether to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee approves the bill, it is sent to the House floor for debate.

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 will not become a law.

The Conference Committee

Once the Conference Committee reaches a compromise, they prepare a written conference report, which is then submitted back to each chamber for approval. This report cannot be amended; each chamber votes to accept or reject it in its entirety. If the conference report is approved by both the House and the Senate, the resulting bill returns to the two chambers for final approval before being sent to the President.

The bill is voted on

Once a bill has been debated and any final changes have been made, it is ready to be voted on. In the US House of Representatives, there are three methods for voting on a bill: viva voce, division, and recorded. In a viva voce vote, the Speaker of the House asks Representatives to say "aye" if they support the bill and "no" if they oppose it. In a division vote, the Speaker asks those who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose the bill. In a recorded vote, Representatives record their vote using an electronic voting system, and can vote yes, no, or present if they don't want to vote on the bill. If a majority of Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House and is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the US Senate.

In the Senate, 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. If the House and Senate pass different versions of the bill, it is sent to a Conference Committee, which is made up of members from each house, to work out the differences. The Conference Committee reaches a compromise and prepares a written report, which is then submitted to each chamber for approval.

The bill becomes law

The bill becomes a law after a rigorous process involving the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President. Here is a detailed description of the steps involved:

The Bill's Journey in the House of Representatives:

• Introduction and Sponsorship: A Representative introduces the bill, which then requires a sponsor. The sponsor discusses the bill with other Representatives to gain their support.
• Placement in the Hopper: The bill is placed in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk.
• Assignment of a Number and Reading: The bill clerk assigns a number, typically starting with "H.R." A reading clerk then reads the bill to all Representatives.
• Referral to a Committee: The Speaker of the House sends the bill to a relevant committee, such as the Agriculture or Education Committee. The committee members review, research, and revise the bill.
• Subcommittee Review: If further information is needed, the bill is sent to a subcommittee for detailed examination and expert opinions.
• Committee Approval and Reporting: Once the committee approves the bill, it is reported to the House floor for debate. Representatives discuss the bill, explaining their agreements or disagreements.
• Debate and Amendments: The bill is read section by section, and Representatives recommend changes.
• Voting: The Representatives vote on the bill using one of three methods: viva voce (voice vote), division, or recorded vote. A simple majority is required for the bill to pass.

The Bill's Journey in the Senate:

• Discussion and Voting: When the bill reaches the Senate, it undergoes similar procedures as in the House of Representatives. It is discussed and voted on by Senators.
• Simple Majority Required: For the bill to pass in the Senate, a simple majority (51 out of 100) is necessary.

Final Steps:

• Conference Committee: If the House and Senate pass different versions of the bill, a conference committee, consisting of members from both chambers, works out the differences.
• Submission to the President: The bill is then submitted to the President for review and approval.
• President's Options: The President has three choices: sign and pass the bill, veto it and send it back to Congress with their reasons, or do nothing (pocket veto).
• Overriding a Veto: If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can still turn it into law by holding 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.

In summary, a bill becomes a law when it has successfully navigated through the House of Representatives, the Senate, and, finally, the President's review and approval. This process ensures that laws are thoroughly debated, amended, and supported by a majority in both chambers of Congress before being enacted.

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