Game On: Laws & How They're Made

The How Does a Bill Become a Law board game is an engaging way to learn about the legislative process in the United States. It is designed to be a fun and interactive educational tool, providing players with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of how laws are made by following a bill's journey from an idea to a law. The game covers key topics such as the House of Representatives, the Senate, the President, vetoes, and the different voting requirements. This game is a great resource for students to actively engage with and reinforce their knowledge of the legislative process in a unique and enjoyable way.

The Bill Is Proposed

The first step in the legislative process is for a member of Congress to propose a bill. This can be a Senator or Representative, who will act as the sponsor. The sponsor will discuss their idea with other members of Congress to garner support for the bill. The bill's sponsor will also be the primary Congress member supporting it, with other members who support the bill acting as co-sponsors.

Citizens who have ideas for laws can also propose them to their Representatives. If the Representatives agree with the idea, they will research and write it into a bill. The bill then needs a sponsor and the support of other Representatives before it can be introduced.

Once a bill has been drafted, it is introduced in Congress. 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. A bill can also be petitioned by people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.

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 aloud to all the Representatives, after which the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

The committees are made up of groups of Representatives who are experts on specific topics, 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 members require additional information before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee for further examination and to gather expert opinions.

Once the committee has approved a bill, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor for debate. Representatives discuss the bill, explaining their reasons for supporting or opposing it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend changes. 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 House: Viva Voce (voice vote), Division, and Recorded. In a voice vote, the Speaker of the House asks supporters to say "aye" and opponents to say "no." In a Division vote, supporters and opponents are asked to stand up and be counted. In a Recorded vote, Representatives use the electronic voting system to record their votes as yes, no, or present if they don't want to vote. If a majority of Representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House and is certified by the Clerk of the House before being delivered to the Senate.

The Bill Goes to Committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Committees are groups of members of Congress who are particularly interested in and knowledgeable about a specific topic, such as health, agriculture, education, or international affairs. The committee will carefully review, research, and revise the bill. They may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather expert opinions. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead".

The committee will meet to discuss and make changes to the bill. They may also choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for further review and hearings. The subcommittee will closely examine the bill and gather expert opinions before sending it back to the committee. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the full chamber of Congress, or the "floor". This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".

When a bill is reported to the floor, it is ready to be debated and voted on by the full chamber. Before the vote, there may be additional debate and members can propose amendments to the bill. The bill is then passed or defeated by a majority vote. If the bill passes, it will be referred to the other chamber (the House or the Senate) to go through a similar process.

The Bill Is Voted On

Once a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee, it is then put before that chamber to be voted on. This is a crucial step in the legislative process, as it determines whether the bill will move forward in its journey to becoming a law. Here is a detailed overview of the voting stage:

The voting process for a bill can vary depending on the chamber where it is being considered. In the U.S. House of Representatives, there are three main methods of voting: Viva Voce, Division, and Recorded. Viva Voce, also known as a voice vote, is when the Speaker of the House asks Representatives to voice their support or opposition to the bill. In the Division method, the Speaker requests supporters to stand up and be counted, followed by those against the bill. The Recorded method involves Representatives using an electronic voting system to record their votes as yes, no, or present if they choose not to vote. A simple majority of 218 out of 435 votes is required for the bill to pass in the House.

On the other hand, the U.S. Senate employs a different voting method. Senators express their support by saying "yea" and their opposition by saying "nay." Similar to the House, a simple majority of 51 out of 100 votes is needed for the bill to advance.

If the bill successfully passes in one body of Congress, it proceeds to the other body, where it undergoes a similar process of research, discussion, potential amendments, and, ultimately, voting. This back-and-forth between the two chambers ensures that the proposed legislation is thoroughly vetted and debated before progressing further.

It is worth noting that the House and the Senate have distinct roles in the legislative process. While the House initiates tax and revenue-related legislation, the Senate is responsible for drafting legislation pertaining to presidential nominations and treaties. These procedural differences underscore the importance of the voting stage, as it shapes the direction and fate of the bill within each chamber.

Once a bill has passed in both the House and the Senate, the two chambers must reconcile any discrepancies between their respective versions of the bill. This is typically done through a conference committee comprising members from both bodies. Their task is to negotiate and reach a consensus on the final language of the bill before presenting it to the President for consideration.

The Bill Is Sent to the President

Once a bill has passed review in both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President. If the President approves of the bill, they will sign it, but if they do not, they may veto it and send it back to the Congress, returning it to the stage where it is reviewed in both the House and the Senate.

The President has 10 days to act on the bill; if they choose to take no action, the bill will automatically become law. This is called "pocket veto" and can only occur within these 10 days. If Congress is adjourned during this period, the President must sign the bill for it to become law.

If the President vetoes the bill, they will send it back to the House of Representatives, along with a statement of their objections. The bill is then open to reconsideration and may be revised according to the President's suggestions. It can then be sent back to the President for their approval.

For a bill to become a law, it must pass through both chambers of Congress and receive presidential approval. This can be a lengthy and complex process, with many opportunities for bills to be amended, rejected, or returned for further review and revision.

The President's role in this process is significant, as they have the power to approve or veto legislation. Their approval is the final step in enacting a bill into law, and their veto can initiate further review and potential revision.

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