Cecily Zamora
Bills are created when a member or group of members of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives proposes a new law or a change to an existing law. Bills can also be petitioned by people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. 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. The President then has the option to sign the bill into law or veto it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can introduce a bill? | A bill can be introduced by a single member of Congress, or by a group of members in either the House of Representatives or the Senate or concurrently in both chambers. |
| Who can propose a bill? | A bill can be proposed by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, during their election campaign, or by people or citizen groups who petition a member of Congress. |
| What is the first step after a bill is introduced? | The bill is assigned to a committee for study and research. |
| What is the next step after the committee stage? | The bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated, or amended. |
| What happens if the bill passes by a simple majority? | If the bill passes by a simple majority, it moves to the Senate. |
| What happens in the Senate? | The bill is assigned to another committee and, if released, is debated and voted on. |
| What happens if the Senate makes changes? | If the Senate makes changes, the bill must return to the House for concurrence. |
| What happens after the Senate? | The President has the option to sign the bill into law or veto it. |
| What happens if the President vetoes the bill? | If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can vote to override the veto and the bill becomes a law. |
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What You'll Learn
Who can propose a bill
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. So, a bill can be proposed by anyone with a new legislative idea. In practice, this means that bills are usually proposed by members of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, either during their election campaign or while they are in office. Bills can also be proposed by citizen groups, who can petition a member of Congress to put forward a new bill or change to an existing law.
Once a bill has been proposed, it is introduced by a Representative who sponsors it. This can be any member of the House of Representatives, who can introduce a bill at any time while the House is in session. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. The committee will often send the bill to a specialised subcommittee for further study, hearings, revisions, and approval. The first step in this process is usually a public hearing where committee or subcommittee members hear witnesses representing various viewpoints on the bill.
After hearings are completed, the bill is considered in a session known as the "'mark-up' session". At this point, amendments may be offered to the bill, and the committee or subcommittee members vote to accept or reject these changes. Once deliberation is concluded, a vote of committee or subcommittee members is taken to determine what action to take on the bill. It can be reported, with or without amendment, or tabled, which means no further action will be taken.
If the bill passes this stage, it is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated or amended. If it passes by a simple majority, the bill moves to the Senate. In the Senate, the bill is assigned to another committee and, if released, debated and voted on. If the Senate makes changes, the bill must return to the House for concurrence. The resulting bill returns to the House and Senate for final approval. The President then has the option to veto the final bill or sign it into law.
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How a bill is introduced
The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, be proposed during their election campaign, or be petitioned by people or citizen groups. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.
A bill is introduced by a single member of Congress (the sponsor) or by a group of members (sponsor and co-sponsors) in either the House of Representatives or the Senate or concurrently in both chambers. Depending on which chamber the bill is introduced, it is given a chamber designation and a number. A bill usually receives its number based on the order in which it was introduced. Any member of the House of Representatives may introduce a bill at any time while the House is in session by simply placing it in the "hopper" at the side of the Clerk's desk in the House Chamber.
After a bill is introduced, it is referred by the Speaker, on the advice of the nonpartisan parliamentarian, to all committees that have jurisdiction over the provisions in the bill, as determined by the chamber's standing rules and past referral decisions. Most bills fall under the jurisdiction of one committee. If multiple committees are involved and receive the bill, each committee may work only on the portion of the bill under its jurisdiction. One of those committees will be designated the primary committee of jurisdiction and will likely take the lead on any action that may occur. In the Senate, bills are typically referred to a committee in a similar process, though in almost all cases, the bill is referred only to the committee with jurisdiction over the issue that predominates in the bill.
In the House of Representatives, the bill is then referred to the appropriate subcommittee where hearings are held on the issue and the bill is carefully examined in-depth. This is the best opportunity to put “on the record” the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, supporters, and opponents of the legislation. After hearings are completed, the bill is considered in a session that is popularly known as the ""mark-up" session. At this point, amendments may be offered to the bill, and the committee or subcommittee members vote to accept or reject these changes. At the conclusion of deliberation, a vote of committee or subcommittee members is taken to determine what action to take on the measure. It can be reported, with or without amendment, or tabled, which means no further action on it will occur.
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The committee process
The committees are chaired by members of Congress, who wield significant influence over the process. They set the agenda and can control the pace at which a bill moves through the committee. If the chairperson is not supportive of a bill, they can employ tactics to stall or prevent its progression, such as refusing to schedule hearings or votes. However, there are mechanisms in place to bypass an uncooperative chairperson.
Committees often delegate bills to specialised subcommittees, which hold hearings and conduct in-depth examinations of the proposed legislation. These hearings serve as a platform for diverse viewpoints, allowing input from experts, public officials, supporters, and opponents of the bill. The subcommittee members discuss, research, and make amendments to the bill. After the hearings, the committee or subcommittee members vote to accept or reject the proposed changes.
Following the hearings and deliberations, the committee or subcommittee takes a vote to determine the next course of action. The bill can be reported with or without amendments, or it may be tabled, meaning no further action will be taken. If the bill advances, it is then placed on a calendar to be voted on by the full chamber. In the House, the majority party leadership decides when to schedule the debate and vote, whereas in the Senate, there is no time limit on debates unless unanimously agreed upon.
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Voting on a bill
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee stage is the most critical step in the legislative process. The committee provides the most intensive consideration of a proposed measure and is the forum where the public is given the opportunity to be heard. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.
The bill is carefully examined in-depth, with hearings held on the issue. This is the best opportunity to put on record the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, supporters, and opponents of the legislation. After hearings are completed, the bill is considered in a session that is popularly known as the "mark-up" session. At this point, amendments may be offered to the bill, and the committee or subcommittee members vote to accept or reject these changes.
After all debate is concluded and amendments decided upon, the House votes on final passage. Votes may be taken by the electronic voting system, which registers each individual member's response. These are referred to as recorded votes and are available in the record of roll call votes. Votes in the House may also be by voice vote; in that instance, no record of individual responses is available. If the bill passes by a simple majority, it moves to the Senate.
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. If approved by one chamber (House or Senate), the bill is sent to the other chamber, where it again moves through the committee procedure. If it is approved by the other body without any changes, it is sent to the President for his signature. If both bodies pass different versions of a bill, both bills are sent to a Conference Committee.
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The president's role
The President plays a crucial role in the creation of bills. While the President does not draft legislation, they have the power to influence and shape the legislative process.
Firstly, the President can propose ideas for bills. While members of Congress are the primary sponsors of bills, the President can occasionally request that a member of Congress introduce legislation on their behalf. This allows the President to initiate and shape the legislative agenda.
Secondly, the President has the power to veto bills. Once a bill has passed both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for approval. The President has the option to sign the bill into law or veto it. If the President chooses to veto a bill, Congress can, in most cases, override the veto with a vote, and the bill will become a law. However, if the President does not sign off on a bill and Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be pocket-vetoed, and this action cannot be overridden by Congress.
The President's veto power serves as a critical check and balance in the legislative process. It allows the President to influence the content of bills and ensure they align with their policies and priorities. By carefully considering and potentially amending bills, the President plays a significant role in shaping the final legislation.
Additionally, the President's party affiliation can impact the legislative process. If the President's party holds a majority in Congress, it may be easier to get bills passed and signed into law. Coordination and cooperation between the executive and legislative branches can facilitate the passage of bills.
Overall, while the President does not directly create bills, their ability to propose ideas, veto legislation, and influence Congress plays a pivotal role in the legislative process. The President's actions can shape the content and outcome of bills, highlighting their essential role in lawmaking.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law.
The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, be proposed during their election campaign, or be petitioned by people or citizen groups.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.
The committee provides the most intensive consideration of a proposed measure and serves as a forum for the public to be heard.
After a bill has been passed in identical form by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President to be signed into law.
