Scurvy Bill: A Law's Journey

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one, with many steps and procedures. In the United States, the creation of laws is the most important job of the U.S. House of Representatives. All laws in the U.S. begin as bills, which are proposals for a new law or a change to an existing law. Any member of Congress can propose a bill, and the idea for a bill can also come from citizens or citizen groups who petition their representative. Once a bill is drafted and introduced, it is assigned a number and sent to a committee for review and potential amendments. The bill then goes through several stages of voting and debate in both the House and the Senate, before being sent to the President for approval. The President can approve the bill and sign it into law, or veto it. If the President vetoes, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill becomes a law.

The bill is drafted

Any member of Congress – either from the Senate or the House of Representatives – who has an idea for a law can draft a bill. These ideas can come from the members of Congress themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The primary member of Congress supporting the bill is called the "sponsor". The other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors".

Citizens who have ideas for laws can contact their representatives to discuss their ideas. If the representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. The representative then talks with other representatives about the bill in the hope of getting their support for it. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the other representatives, it is ready to be introduced.

The drafting of statutes is an art that requires great skill, knowledge, and experience. In some instances, a draft is the result of a study covering a period of a year or more by a commission or committee designated by the President or a member of the Cabinet. Congressional committees sometimes draft bills after studies and hearings covering periods of a year or more.

The bill is 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. Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, which is the official government website that tracks federal legislation.

When a bill is introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, 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 assigned a number (e.g. HR 1 or S 1) and is labelled with the sponsor's name. The bill is then sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) and copies are made. Senate bills can be jointly sponsored. Members can cosponsor the piece of legislation.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is sent to a committee. The committee is assigned according to the bill's subject matter and is made up of groups of Representatives who are experts on the topic. The committee will review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the House floor.

If the committee requires more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. A subcommittee is a group with further specialisation on a certain topic. The subcommittee will closely examine the bill and gather expert opinions before sending it back to the committee for approval.

The subcommittee may request reports from government agencies and hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill. They may also choose to revise the bill or report the legislation to the full committee for its consideration. The full committee may then make a recommendation to pass the bill, revise and release the bill (also known as reporting the bill out of the committee), or lay the bill aside (also known as tabling the bill).

If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported". Once the bill reaches the floor, there is additional debate, and members of the full chamber vote to approve any amendments.

The bill is reported

In the US, the process of a bill becoming a law involves several steps, including the introduction of the bill, committee review, voting, and approval by the President. Once a bill is introduced and assigned to a committee, it undergoes scrutiny, hearings, and potential amendments before being voted on. If the bill passes in one body of Congress, it moves to the other body, where it undergoes a similar process. After passing both houses, the bill is presented to the President for approval or veto. If vetoed, Congress can override the veto to pass the bill.

In the UK, the process of a bill becoming a law, also known as an "Act," involves several stages, including introduction, debate, committee review, voting, and Royal Assent. Any Member of Parliament can introduce a bill, which then undergoes a first reading, where it is formally announced, followed by a second reading, where it is explained and debated. The bill is then examined by committees, which may suggest amendments. The bill undergoes a third reading and a final vote before being presented to the monarch for Royal Assent, the official approval that turns it into an Act of Parliament.

Now, focusing on the "The bill is reported" stage:

Once a bill is introduced and assigned to a committee, it is carefully examined, discussed, and potentially amended. This process involves hearings, witness testimonies, and input from various stakeholders. The committee may choose to hold public hearings to gather input and opinions from the public, experts, and other interested parties. These hearings provide an opportunity for a thorough examination of the bill's potential implications and allow for a diverse range of perspectives to be considered. During this stage, the committee may also invite witnesses to testify and provide expert opinions or technical details to clarify complex aspects of the bill.

After the committee has completed its review, it will vote on whether to report the bill back to the full chamber. This procedure is known as "ordering a bill reported." If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor, and the committee staff prepares a written report explaining their support for the bill and any proposed amendments. This report includes a majority opinion and may also include a dissenting opinion from committee members who oppose the bill.

The report stage is a crucial step in the legislative process as it provides a detailed explanation of the bill's purpose, the committee's findings, and any suggested amendments. It allows for transparency and helps educate members of the full chamber about the bill's potential impact. The report is then placed on the calendar, and the bill advances to the next stage of the legislative process, moving closer to a final vote.

The "bill is reported" stage serves as a critical link between the committee review and the consideration by the full chamber. It ensures that the bill has been thoroughly vetted, amended if necessary, and is ready for further debate and deliberation by the entire legislative body. This stage helps maintain the quality and effectiveness of the legislation and encourages an informed decision-making process among lawmakers.

Overall, the "bill is reported" stage plays a vital role in the transformation of an idea into a law. It involves rigorous scrutiny, public input, and committee deliberations, ultimately shaping the final version of the bill that will be presented for a vote. This stage contributes to the democratic process by ensuring that proposed legislation undergoes a comprehensive review before advancing further in the legislative journey.

The bill is voted on

The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.

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.

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 and is ready to go to the President.

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