The Process Of Turning A Bill Into Law

The process of how a bill becomes a law is a long and complex one, varying between different governments. In the US, all laws begin as bills, which must be approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the President. The bill is first drafted, then introduced, and then referred to a committee. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes through the same process in the other body. Once both bodies have voted to accept the bill, they must reconcile any differences between the two versions before presenting it to the President. The President can approve the bill, refuse to approve it (veto), or do nothing. If the President approves, the bill becomes a law. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto, and if successful, the bill becomes a law. If the President does nothing and Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law. In Canada, a bill must be approved in identical form by both houses of Parliament – the Senate and the House of Commons – before the Governor General grants Royal Assent and the bill becomes a law.

The Bill's Journey

The journey of a bill to becoming a law is a long and complex process. It is the most important job of the U.S. House of Representatives. All laws in the United States begin as bills, and the process is the same for every bill, no matter how big or small.

The Bill is Proposed and Introduced

Firstly, the idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be proposed by citizens or citizen groups. If the idea comes from a citizen, they must contact their representative to discuss their idea. If the representative agrees, they will research and write the idea into a bill. The bill then needs a sponsor, who will talk to other representatives to gain support. Once it has a sponsor and some support, the bill 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. A bill clerk assigns it a number and a title, and a reading clerk reads it to all the representatives.

The Bill Goes to Committee

The bill is then sent to a committee, which is a group of representatives who are experts on the topic of the bill. They review, research, and revise the bill, and they may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill. The committee may also choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee can make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the committee. Once the committee has approved the bill, it is sent back to the House floor, where it is debated and changes are recommended.

The Bill is Voted On

Once all 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 (voice vote), division, and recorded. If the bill passes with a majority vote, it is certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate.

The Bill Goes to the Senate

The bill then goes through many of the same steps in the Senate. It is discussed and voted on, and if it passes, it is sent to the President.

The Bill Goes to the President

The President has three choices: they can sign and pass the bill, in which case it becomes a law; they can veto the bill, sending it back to the House of Representatives with their reasons for the veto; or they can do nothing, in which case, if Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.

If the President vetoes a bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto by holding another vote. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, it will become a law.

The Bill Becomes a Law

Once a bill has passed in both the House of Representatives and the Senate and has been approved by the President, or if a presidential veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law and is enforced by the government.

The Role of the House of Representatives

The U.S. House of Representatives plays a crucial role in the process of a bill becoming a law. This process begins with an idea, which can come from either a Representative or a citizen. If the idea originates from a citizen, they can contact their Representative to discuss it, and if the Representative agrees, they will research and draft the idea into a bill. Once a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor. The sponsor will talk to other Representatives to gain their support. After securing a sponsor and the backing of other Representatives, the bill is ready to be introduced.

The introduction of a bill occurs 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. The bill clerk then assigns it a number that begins with H.R., and a reading clerk reads the bill aloud to all Representatives. At this point, the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

The committees consist of groups of Representatives with expertise in specific areas, 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 requires additional information, the bill is referred to a subcommittee for closer examination and to gather expert opinions. Once the committee approves the bill, it is reported back to the House floor for debate.

During the debate, Representatives discuss the bill, explaining their agreement or disagreement. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and Representatives can recommend changes. After all the suggested modifications have been made, the bill is ready for a vote.

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the House of Representatives: viva voce, division, and 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 opponents of the bill are asked to stand up and be counted separately. In the recorded method, Representatives use an electronic voting system to register their vote as yes, no, or present if they choose not to vote.

If a majority of Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House of Representatives and is certified by the Clerk of the House before being delivered to the U.S. Senate for the next stage of its journey toward becoming a law.

The Role of the Senate

The U.S. legislative process is a long and complex one, and the role of the Senate is an important part of this process. Once a bill has been approved by the House of Representatives, it begins its journey through the Senate. The Senate has the power to block a bill, revise it, or allow it to pass.

Firstly, a bill is introduced to the Senate by a Senator, who must be recognised by the presiding officer, the Vice President of the U.S. The bill is then assigned to a committee for further study. The Senate has around 15 standing committees, and these committees may hold hearings, approve the bill, revise it, or table it. The committee stage is an important part of the process, as it allows for a detailed examination of the bill and its implications.

Once the committee stage is complete, the bill goes to the Senate floor for debate and a vote. Senators can debate a bill indefinitely unless a vote is passed to end the discussion. Most bills require a simple majority to pass. The Senate, therefore, has a crucial role in scrutinising and debating bills, which helps to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed legislation.

After a bill has passed through the Senate, the two houses of Congress meet in conference committees to prepare the bill to be sent to the White House. This is a key stage in the process, as it ensures that any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill are resolved. The Senate, therefore, plays a vital role in shaping the final version of a bill before it is presented to the President for approval.

The President's Decision

The President's role in the process of a bill becoming a law is critical. Once a bill has been approved by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, it is sent to the President, who has three options.

Firstly, the President can choose to sign and pass the bill, at which point it becomes a law. This is the simplest outcome, and the bill's journey is complete.

However, the President may also choose to veto the bill, which means refusing to sign it. In this case, the bill is sent back to the House of Representatives, along with the President's 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 the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden, and the bill becomes a law.

The third option for the President is to do nothing, which is known as a "pocket veto". If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days, but if Congress is not in session, the bill will not become a law.

Overriding a Veto

The process of a bill becoming a law in the United States involves several steps, and one of the most significant aspects is the possibility of a presidential veto and its override. A veto is a legal power that allows the president to unilaterally stop a bill from becoming a law. The president has the authority to approve or disapprove of a bill presented to them by the U.S. Congress, which consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. When a bill reaches the president, they have three options: they can sign and pass the bill into law, veto it, or do nothing, which is known as a "pocket veto."

If the president chooses to veto a bill, Congress has the power to override that veto and enact the bill into law. This process is a crucial aspect of the system of checks and balances between the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. government. The veto override process requires a higher level of support for the bill than the initial vote. In the United States, for a veto to be overridden, two-thirds of both the Senate and the House of Representatives must pass the bill. This is known as a supermajority vote.

The process of overriding a veto demonstrates the intricate balance of powers in the U.S. political system. It highlights the ability of Congress to push forward a bill even without the president's approval. However, the requirement for a supermajority makes it a challenging process, ensuring that only bills with significant support are enacted into law over the president's objections.

The veto override process is an essential tool for Congress to assert its legislative authority and ensure that the president's veto power does not become dominant in the law-making process. It serves as a safeguard to prevent the executive branch from becoming too powerful and allows for a more collaborative and balanced approach to lawmaking.

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