Understanding The Legislative Process: Bills To Laws

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one. In the United States, a bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. The idea for a bill can come from anyone, but it's up to members of the House of Representatives or the Senate to sponsor and introduce them. Once a bill has been introduced, it goes through several stages of review, research, and revision by committees and subcommittees before being voted on. If a bill passes in both the House and the Senate, it is then presented to the President for approval or veto. Understanding how a bill becomes a law is crucial for comprehending the legislative process and the functioning of the US government.

How a bill is proposed

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. A bill can be proposed by anyone, from a citizen to a member of Congress. Citizens who have ideas for laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. The person who submits the bill is known as the sponsor. The primary Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor", and other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors".

Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the Representatives, it is ready to be introduced. In the US, 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. 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.

In Australia, most bills are introduced into the House of Representatives and then sent to the Senate. Bills may start in the Senate, except for money and taxation bills. Most bills are introduced by government ministers, but other members of parliament can introduce their own bills, known as private members' or private senators' bills. Usually, a minister who wants to introduce a bill gives written notice of their intention to do so.

The role of the sponsor

Before introducing the bill, the sponsor will typically seek support from other members of Congress to increase the chances of the bill's success. Once a bill has sufficient support, the sponsor will introduce it to the House of Representatives or the Senate, depending on their chamber of membership. This involves placing the bill in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk.

The sponsor's role continues as the bill progresses through the legislative process. They may need to present the bill to their chamber, explain the problem it aims to address, and propose solutions. The sponsor will also likely be involved in discussions and amendments to the bill as it goes through committees and subcommittees.

Throughout the process, the sponsor acts as the bill's champion, advocating for its passage and working to address any concerns or objections raised. They may need to defend the bill against opposition and make revisions to gain broader support.

Overall, the sponsor plays a central and ongoing role in shepherding the bill through the legislative process, from its initial conception to its ultimate passage (or failure) as a law.

The bill is introduced

The first step in the process of a bill becoming a law is the bill being 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 Congress members themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The primary Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor". The other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors". Once the bill is drafted, it must be introduced. If a Representative is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the House. If a Senator is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the Senate.

Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, which is the official government website that tracks federal legislation. 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. Only Representatives can introduce bills in the U.S. House of Representatives. 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 role of the committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee members are groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. They will review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the House floor. If the committee members want more information before deciding, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. The subcommittee will closely examine the bill and gather expert opinions before sending it back to the committee for approval.

During the committee stage, the bill undergoes intense scrutiny and can be significantly shaped and refined. The committee members bring their knowledge and expertise to bear on the bill, ensuring that it is thoroughly examined from various perspectives. This collaborative process is designed to improve the bill and increase its chances of success in the next stages of the law-making process.

The committee also has the power to hold hearings and gather input from relevant departments, agencies, and the public. They may invite experts and stakeholders to provide testimony and answer questions, allowing for a more informed decision-making process. The committee's work is crucial in ensuring that the bill is well-vetted and has a solid foundation before progressing further.

The bill is reported

Once the committee has approved a bill, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported". When a bill is reported, it is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives.

When a bill is debated, Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. A reading clerk reads the bill section by section and the Representatives recommend changes. When all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

After the bill is reported, the committee staff prepares a written report explaining why they favour the bill and why they wish to see their amendments, if any, adopted. Committee members who oppose a bill sometimes write a dissenting opinion in the report. The report is sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar.

In the House, most bills go to the Rules Committee before reaching the floor. The committee adopts rules that will govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered by the House. A "closed rule" sets strict time limits on debate and forbids the introduction of amendments. These rules can have a major impact on whether the bill passes. The rules committee can be bypassed in three ways:

• Members can move rules to be suspended (requires a two-thirds vote)
• A discharge petition can be filed
• The House can use a Calendar Wednesday procedure

The Bill Is Voted On

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.

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