Keith Mack
Changing laws in the United States can be done at the local, state, and federal levels. The process of changing a law starts with identifying the type of law and the relevant lawmaking body, which could be the city or town council, state legislature, or Congress. A bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law, can be introduced by a member of Congress or petitioned by citizens. Once introduced, a bill is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and makes changes before voting on it. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body, and if accepted by both, the two versions are reconciled before a final vote. The bill is then presented to the president for approval or veto. Citizens can actively engage in changing laws by supporting or starting petitions and working with lawmakers to write and introduce new bills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can propose a bill? | A sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, during their election campaign, or by petition from people or citizen groups |
| What is the process for a bill to become a law? | Once introduced, a bill is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and makes changes to it; if it passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body for a similar process; once both bodies vote to accept, they must reconcile any differences between the two versions and vote on the same version; if passed, it is presented to the president for approval or veto |
| How can citizens help change laws? | By supporting or starting a petition at the local, state, or federal level |
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What You'll Learn
Bills can be proposed by citizens or citizen groups
In the United States, bills can be proposed by citizens or citizen groups. This is done by petitioning a member of Congress to recommend a new or amended law. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.
There are two types of bills: public and private. A public bill is one that affects the general public, while a private bill affects a specified individual or entity rather than the population at large. A typical private bill is used for relief in matters such as immigration and naturalization and claims against the United States.
Bills may originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, with one notable exception. Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution states that all bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives, but the Senate may propose or concur with amendments. By tradition, general appropriation bills also originate in the House of Representatives.
The majority of laws originate in the House of Representatives, and as such, the legislative process differs between the House and the Senate. While the House processes legislation through a majority vote, the Senate does so through deliberation and debate prior to voting.
Once a 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.
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Bills are assigned to a committee for research and discussion
In the United States, bills are proposed pieces of legislation that can be introduced by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee.
Committees are subsidiary organisations established for the purpose of considering legislation, conducting hearings, and performing legislative research and policy planning. There are several types of committees, including standing committees, joint committees, and special or select committees. Standing committees are permanent committees established under the standing rules of the Senate, and they specialize in considering particular subject areas. The Senate currently has 16 standing committees. Joint committees include members from both houses of Congress and are usually established with narrow jurisdictions, typically lacking the authority to report legislation. Special or select committees are temporary, ad hoc panels formed to address specific issues or topics that may require further investigation or expertise.
Committee hearings and markup sessions are generally open to the public, except in rare cases, usually when discussing national security issues. Committees post witness testimonies on their websites, though these often do not include the question-and-answer portions of hearings. Committees also provide access to webcasts of hearings, which are archived and posted on the committee's website and Congress.gov.
Committee members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. They may also draft bills after conducting studies and hearings over extended periods. The committee stage is a critical part of the legislative process, allowing for a thorough examination and debate of the proposed legislation. Once the committee has completed its work on the bill, it is then put before the chamber to be voted on.
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Bills must pass both bodies of Congress
In the United States, Congress is the federal government's lawmaking branch. It consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives, which have equal legislative functions and powers.
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 who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. Bills can originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, with the exception of all bills for raising revenue, which must originate in the House of Representatives.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. 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. Amendments may be offered during a spirited debate with little or no prior formal preparation. The amendment may be for the purpose of inserting new language, substituting different words for those set out in the bill, or deleting portions of the bill. In some cases, amendments offered from the floor are written in longhand. Each amendment must be inserted in precisely the proper place in the bill, with the spelling and punctuation exactly as it was adopted.
Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any discrepancies between the two versions. Then, both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.
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The President can veto a bill
In the United States, the President has the authority to veto federal bills passed by Congress. This power is granted by Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution and is one of the President's most significant tools for preventing the passage of legislation. The President has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to act on a bill before it automatically becomes law.
There are two types of vetoes: the "regular veto" and the "pocket veto". With a regular veto, the President returns the unsigned bill to the originating house of Congress within 10 days, usually accompanied by a memorandum of disapproval or a "veto message". Congress can override a regular veto if it musters a two-thirds vote in each house.
A pocket veto occurs when the President does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns before the 10-day period elapses. In this case, the bill is vetoed by default and cannot be overridden by Congress. The authority of the pocket veto is derived from Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution, which states, "the Congress by their adjournment prevent its return, in which case, it shall not be law."
The threat of a veto can significantly influence the legislative process. Even before a bill is presented to the President, the possibility of a veto may bring about changes to its content. This influence on legislation is a crucial aspect of the President's role in shaping US laws.
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Citizens can start or support petitions
In the United States, citizens can exercise their right to petition to influence legislative action and ultimately, the political landscape. This was a highly valued right in eighteenth-century America, and it is still an important means of expression and political engagement today.
Petitions are requests made to a government agency or public official, typically on behalf of a group. They can be used to address specific rules set by the state or federal government, and they can be used to request the adoption, amendment, or repeal of a regulation. There are several types of petitions, including political petitions, legal petitions, public purpose petitions, and internet petitions.
Citizens can start petitions by following these steps:
- Choose a catchy headline that is clear and concise, and be sure to include the relevant location if it is a local or state issue.
- Write about the change you want to make in the body of the petition. Explain who is impacted by the current law, what the law is now, and how you want to see it changed. Emphasize why now is the time to make this change, and consider including a personal story to help people feel emotion and better understand the real-world impact of the law.
- Choose an image that speaks to your cause. A simple, striking image with colour contrast, such as a close-up of a person or pet portraying emotion, tends to perform better than a mash-up of multiple images. Ensure you have permission to use the image, and aim for a size of at least 1600 x 900 pixels.
- Collect signatures by sharing your petition on social media, local bulletin boards, your local radio station, and anywhere else that makes sense to find others who care about the issue. You can also craft a press release, get interviews with journalists, and tell your personal story to gain media attention and build support for your cause.
- Work directly with lawmakers once you have some support behind your idea. You can engage with politicians and work with them to write a new bill that includes the changes you want to make. There are bill-writing guides and templates available online to help with this step.
Citizens can also support existing petitions by signing their name to indicate their support for the proposed change. This can be an effective way to engage with elected officials and participate in politics, especially for disenfranchised groups who may not have the right to vote.
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Frequently asked questions
You don't need to be a politician to change a law. You can help change laws at the local, state, and federal levels by supporting a petition or starting one of your own.
First, you must determine whether the law you want to change is a local, state, or national government law. Then, research pending legislation that might be related to your issue. Next, research lawmakers to find the best person to work with to get the law changed. Finally, work with lawmakers to write a new bill.
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. Bills can originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. There are two types of bills: public and private. A public bill affects the general public, while a private bill affects a specified individual or entity.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and makes changes to it. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process. 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, who can approve the bill and sign it into law or veto it.
