Cecily Zamora
The process of how a bill becomes a law is a complex one, and it differs slightly depending on the region. In the US, a bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one, which can be suggested by a member of the Senate or House of Representatives, or by citizens and advocacy groups. A bill must be introduced, assigned to a committee, researched, discussed, and amended, before being put to a vote. If a bill passes in one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body. Once both bodies have voted to accept a bill, they must reconcile any differences between the two versions, and both chambers vote on the final version. The bill is then presented to the president, who can approve it, veto it, or do nothing. If the president vetoes a bill, Congress can override this in most cases.
What You'll Learn
The Bill Is Proposed
The process of a bill becoming a law begins with an idea. This idea can come from anyone, but it will need to be presented by a senator or representative serving in a chamber. The person who presents the idea is known as the bill's sponsor. Once a bill has a sponsor, it is discussed with other representatives to gain their support. The sponsor will want to ensure that other members of Congress will support the bill before they introduce it.
When a bill has a sponsor and the support of some representatives, it is ready to be introduced. In the US 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 of Representatives.
Once a bill is introduced, a bill clerk assigns it a number. For example, in Texas, the first bill introduced in the House would be assigned the number HB-1. After being numbered, the bill is read aloud by the reading clerk to all representatives. The Speaker of the House then sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.
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The Bill Is Introduced
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 bill is then printed and distributed to House members. It is also uploaded to the official website of Congress for public viewing.
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The Bill Goes to Committee
Once a bill has been introduced, it is sent to a committee. The head of Congress refers the bill to a committee related to the subject matter or area of interest. These committees are groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations.
The committee's job is to review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the House floor. They may make revisions to the document that they deem necessary. They may also choose to take no action on a bill, in which case it is said to have died in committee and will not become a law.
If the committee members would like more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. In a subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.
The committee may also create a smaller committee, or Conference Committee, to analyse the bill further. This is usually only necessary if there are two different versions of the same bill. Conference Committees are made up of members from both the House and the Senate, typically the more senior members of the standing committees that worked on the original bill.
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The Bill Is Reported
Once a bill has been approved by a committee, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. This is when a bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives.
During the debate, Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend changes. Once all the changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.
There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: viva voce, division, and recorded. In the viva voce method, the Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it to say "no". In the division method, the Speaker asks those who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose it. In the recorded method, Representatives record their votes using the electronic voting system, and can vote yes, no, or present if they don't want to vote on the bill.
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.
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The Bill Is Voted On
Once a bill has been introduced, assigned a number, and read by a clerk, it is ready to be voted on. In the U.S. House of Representatives, there are three methods for voting on a bill: Viva Voce (voice vote), Division, and Recorded. 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 those in support to stand up and be counted, and then does the same for those who oppose the bill. In a Recorded vote, Representatives use an electronic voting system to record their vote. They 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 certified by the Clerk before being delivered to the U.S. Senate. If the bill does not receive a majority vote, it does not pass.
The process is similar in the Senate, where Senators vote by voice. Those in support of the bill say "yea", and those opposed say "nay". If a majority of Senators vote in support, the bill passes in the Senate and is sent to the President. If not, it does not pass.
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Frequently asked questions
The first step is the introduction of the bill to the House of Representatives. A sponsor places the document in a box called the hopper, which is located next to the clerk's desk.
The committee's role is to discuss, review, research, and revise the bill. They may also choose to take no action on a bill, in which case it is said to have died in committee and will not become a law.
If the President does not want the bill to become a law, they can veto it. The bill will then be sent back to Congress, along with the President's objections. Congress can then hold another vote on the bill, and if two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support it, the veto can be overridden and the bill will become a law.
