The Legislative Process: How Bills Become Laws

The process of turning a bill into a law is a long and complex one. In the United States, the creation of laws is the most important job of the U.S. House of Representatives. All laws in the United States begin as bills, which can be proposed by a Representative or a citizen. Once a bill has been proposed, it needs a sponsor and the support of other Representatives before it can be introduced. After being introduced, a bill goes through several stages of review and revision by committees and subcommittees before being voted on. If a bill passes in the House of Representatives, it then goes through a similar process in the U.S. Senate. Finally, the bill is sent to the President, who can choose to sign and pass the bill, veto it, or do nothing (a pocket veto). If a bill is passed by both the House and the Senate and approved by the President, or if a presidential veto is overridden, the bill becomes a law.

The bill is drafted

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.

The bill is introduced

When a bill is introduced in the House, 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 bill is then assigned a calendar number on either the Union Calendar or the House Calendar, the two principal calendars of business.

In the Senate, a senator usually introduces a bill or resolution by presenting it to one of the clerks at the Presiding Officer's desk, without commenting on it from the floor of the Senate. However, a senator may use a more formal procedure by rising and introducing the bill or resolution from the floor, usually accompanied by a statement about the measure.

Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. Committees are groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee will review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether to send it back to the House floor. If the committee would like more information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee.

Subcommittees are specialized groups that operate under committees. They will closely examine the bill and gather expert opinions before sending it back to the committee for approval. Once the committee has approved a bill, it is sent back to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated.

The committee plays a crucial role in the legislative process by providing intensive consideration of the proposed bill and serving as a forum for public input. The committee's actions help shape the final version of the bill and determine its chances of passage by the entire Congress.

The bill is reported

Once a bill has been approved by a committee, it is sent to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. This is when a bill is reported.

When a bill is debated, Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. Then, 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.

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.

The bill is voted on

Once a bill has been introduced, debated, and amended, it 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)

The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it to 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 vote "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.

It is important to note that the process of voting on a bill may vary slightly between the House and the Senate. For example, in the Senate, Senators vote by voice, with supporters saying "yea" and opponents saying "nay."

Frequently asked questions