Gavin Howe
The process of proposing a law varies across different countries and legislative bodies. In the United States, ideas for legislative proposals can come from individual citizens, government departments, or private groups. To propose a law, citizens can contact a legislator by phone, email, or snail mail, or request a meeting to discuss complex ideas. Legislators can only request new bills during the Fall, after which legislative staff draft the bill text, and bills are introduced in January. Once a legislator introduces a bill, citizens can track its progress, attend public hearings, and contact elected officials to advocate for their support. To become a law, a bill must pass both houses of Congress and be presented to the President, who can approve or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can propose a law? | An individual Representative or Senator, any of the executive departments of the Government, private organized groups or associations, or any individual citizen. |
| Who can introduce a law? | Only Senators and Representatives can introduce a law in their respective Houses. |
| When can legislators request new bills? | In the Fall of each year. |
| Ways to contact a legislator | Phone, email, snail-mail, or in-person meeting. |
| What happens after a legislator files a bill request? | They work with legislative staff to draft the bill. |
| When are bills introduced? | In January. |
| What happens after a bill is introduced? | Public hearings and votes begin. |
| What is the role of the President? | The President can approve the bill and sign it into law, or veto it. If the President does not sign off on a bill and Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be pocket vetoed and cannot be overridden by Congress. |
| What is the difference between a bill and a resolution? | Bills are used for making law, while simple and concurrent resolutions are used for matters of congressional administration and to express nonbinding policy views. Joint resolutions are used for proposing constitutional amendments. |
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What You'll Learn
Contact legislators by phone, email, or mail
Legislators can be contacted by phone, email, or mail. Different legislators have different preferences when connecting with voters, so there is no right or wrong way to reach out. If your idea is very complex, it might be better to ask for a meeting to talk through your thoughts. Legislators can only request new bills during the fall of each year, so if you have a big idea, you might have to wait several months before it can be proposed. After legislators file bill requests, they work with legislative staff to draft the exact bill text. Bills are then introduced in January, at which point public hearings and votes begin. If your idea is related to a bill that is already going through the legislative process, your legislator might be able to introduce your idea as an amendment to that bill.
When a bill is introduced, it is referred to the standing committees with jurisdiction over the subject matter. Bills are frequently similar in purpose, in which case the committee considering them may add the best features of the others for reporting to the parent body, or draft a new bill (known as an original bill) and report it in lieu of the others. Bills and resolutions may be introduced from the floor, and any senator, when doing so, usually discusses their proposal when they present it. There can only be one prime sponsor of a bill or resolution, but other senators can be included as co-sponsors.
If a legislator introduces your bill, you should follow its progress through the legislature. You can also show up at public hearings to voice support for your bill, contact your elected officials and urge them to vote for the bill, and write letters to the editor to raise awareness of your bill.
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Ask for a meeting to discuss complex ideas
If you have an idea for a bill, the first step is to find a legislator who may support your idea. You can start with your current elected officials. If you are sure that all of your local legislators would oppose your idea, you can try to find a legislator from another district who might agree with your cause. Try looking for similar bills from previous years and identify the sponsors of those bills.
If your idea is very complex, it might be better to ask for a meeting to talk through your thoughts. You can contact a legislator by phone, email, or snail mail. Different legislators have different preferences when connecting with voters, so there is no right or wrong way to reach out. Even if your bill is not yet written, it can be a powerful beginning to discuss the topic with your elected official. If you can judge your representative's level of interest, you may gain some insight into the way to write your bill. For example, if you want to propose gun control legislation, but your representative is opposed to gun control, consider tailoring your bill to be more moderate.
Before reaching out to legislators, it is important to conduct thorough research and gather support for your idea. Start by investigating possible solutions and determining the potential costs associated with your proposed solution. You can speak with community members and gather public opinion to understand how much of the general public identifies the same issues and concerns that you have. You can also gather data from your online presence, such as the number of signatures on a petition or the number of followers or likes on social media, to help generate support among legislators.
Once you have done your research and built support, you can reach out to legislators and ask for a meeting to discuss your complex idea. Be prepared to explain your idea clearly and concisely, and be open to feedback and suggestions from the legislator. Remember that legislators can only request new bills during the fall of each year, so you may need to wait several months for your idea to become a reality.
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Track the bill's progress through the legislature
Tracking a bill's progress through the legislature is an important part of the lawmaking process. It allows individuals and organizations to stay informed, engage with the process, and even influence the outcome. Here are some ways to effectively track a bill's progress:
Utilize Online Resources
Online platforms like GovTrack.us provide a wealth of information on bills and resolutions before the United States Congress. You can find updates on when a bill is introduced, scheduled for debate, or has major actions like votes or being enacted. Additionally, GovTrack offers email alerts for specific bills, subject areas, and legislative activities of representatives and senators.
Access Official Websites
Official government websites, such as senate.gov, provide access to copies of bills and their full text. You can search for bills by keywords, bill numbers, or categories like current legislation, Congressional Record, committee reports, and more. The website also offers information on the steps and people involved in moving bills through the lawmaking process.
Subscribe to Updates
Legislative bodies often provide subscription services to stay updated on bills, committees, and schedules. For example, the Washington State Legislature allows users to subscribe and receive real-time updates as bills progress through the lawmaking process. This helps individuals follow the journey of specific bills and stay engaged with the legislative process.
Use Tracking Software
Various software tools, like Quorum and Bill Track 50, offer efficient ways to track bills. These platforms provide features such as real-time alerts, issue management, stakeholder identification, and contact information for officials. They streamline the process of tracking multiple bills across different states or at the federal level, ensuring that no important developments are missed.
Engage with Legislative Teams
Hiring consultants or field teams with connections to Capitol Hill or expertise in state legislatures can be beneficial. While this option may be expensive, it ensures specialized knowledge and direct access to information. Alternatively, lobbyists or consultants can be hired to track state legislation, though they typically work within specific regions.
By employing these strategies, individuals and organizations can effectively track a bill's progress through the legislature, enabling them to stay informed, engage with the legislative process, and potentially influence the direction of laws that matter to them.
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Voice support at public hearings
Public hearings are an important aspect of the law-making process, providing a platform for individuals and state authorities to engage in mature reciprocal dialogue and make informed decisions. They are held at all levels of government, from city to national, and can be formal or informal in nature.
Public hearings serve multiple purposes, including receiving testimony from the public on local issues or proposed government actions. Testimonies from both sides are typically recorded for the public record, and a summary report is generated. In some cases, public hearings are mandated by law, such as assessing the environmental impact of a proposed highway project. Additionally, government officials may utilise these hearings to gather information for decision-making or drafting legislation.
Public hearings can also be leveraged to gain wider support for a bill or to obstruct it. They facilitate the exchange of thoughts and views before the passage of a bill, allowing committee members to consider public opinions. Additionally, hearings inform the media, political supporters, the public, and interest groups about the implications and options related to public policy.
To make public hearings more effective, it is crucial for lawmakers to communicate how public proposals have been considered. This enhances the legitimacy of the legislative process and ensures that the public's voice is not only heard but also integrated into the decision-making process.
When planning a public hearing, it is essential to keep your goals in mind. This will help you select the most suitable speakers and ensure a clear direction throughout the process. Additionally, it is important to arrive early to sign up to speak and be mindful of any rules or restrictions, such as those related to signage.
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Contact officials and urge them to vote for the bill
Contacting government officials and urging them to vote for a bill is an important aspect of advocacy. Here are some steps to effectively communicate with officials and encourage their support for a particular bill:
Identify the Relevant Officials
Before reaching out, identify the officials who are most likely to be interested in or impacted by the bill. Consider their legislative record, committee assignments, and areas of interest or expertise. Targeting the right officials increases the chances of a positive response.
Prepare Your Message
When crafting your message, focus on making the issue relevant to the official. Share personal stories and experiences related to the bill, as this can help build a connection and highlight the human impact of their decision. Remember, your goal is not to overwhelm them with facts and figures but to demonstrate why this bill matters.
Provide Essential Information
Ensure you provide essential details about the bill, including its title, number, and key provisions. With thousands of bills introduced each session, specificity is crucial. Respect their time by being concise and direct.
Utilize Various Communication Channels
You can reach out to officials through various channels, such as email, letters, or in-person visits. Emails and letters should follow a respectful and clear format, addressing the official directly. In-person visits can be effective, especially if you don't have an appointment. You can drop off materials and express your interest in the issue.
Build Relationships
Advocacy is often about relationship-building. Attending events or supporting initiatives unrelated to your specific ask can help foster positive relationships with officials and their staff. These connections may prove beneficial when you need their support for a particular bill.
Follow Up
Don't be afraid to follow up after your initial contact. Send a brief email or letter reiterating your request and expressing your continued interest in the bill's progress. Thank them for their time and attention.
Remember, when urging officials to vote for a bill, it's essential to remain respectful, concise, and focused on the issue's relevance to their constituents and themselves.
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Frequently asked questions
You can propose a law by contacting a legislator via phone, email, snail mail, or in person.
Once a legislator introduces a bill, it is referred to the standing committees that have jurisdiction over the subject matter. The bill is then drafted by legislative staff and introduced in January, after which public hearings and votes begin. If the bill passes both houses of Congress, it is presented to the President, who can approve and sign it into law or veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote.
Legislators can only request new bills during the Fall of each year, so you may need to wait before your idea becomes a reality.
Bills and joint resolutions are both used for making laws. However, bills are more common than joint resolutions, which are used for proposing constitutional amendments.
Ideas for legislative proposals may come from individual citizens, private groups or associations, government departments, or individual Senators or Representatives. However, only Senators and Representatives can introduce bills in their respective Houses.
