The Strange Journey Of A Bill To Law

So, you want to know how a bill becomes a law, huh? Well, grab a snack because it's a long journey!

First, a bill is just an idea. This idea can come from anyone, even you! If you have a bright idea for a new law, you can contact your representative, and if they agree, they'll do some research and write it up as a bill.

Next, the bill needs a sponsor. The representative will chat with their friends in Congress to try and get some support. Once the bill has a sponsor and some fans, it's ready for its big debut.

Now, the bill is introduced. In the House of Representatives, this means placing it in a special box called the hopper. A bill clerk gives it a number and reads it out loud to everyone. Then, it's sent to a committee.

The committee is like a group of experts who review the bill, research it, and make changes if needed. They might even hold hearings to get opinions from other smart people. If the committee likes the bill, they'll vote to send it back to the House floor.

Back on the House floor, representatives discuss the bill and explain why they love or hate it. A clerk reads the bill again, section by section, and the representatives suggest changes. Once all the edits are made, it's time to vote.

There are different ways to vote on a bill, like a voice vote where people say aye or no. If most people say aye, the bill passes the House and heads to the Senate.

In the Senate, the bill goes through a similar process of discussion, changes, and voting. If the Senate likes the bill, it goes to the President.

Now, the President has some choices. They can sign the bill and pass it, or they can refuse to sign it and veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, it goes back to Congress, and they can try to override the veto with another vote. If the President does nothing, the bill might become a law automatically after 10 days if Congress is still in session.

If the bill makes it through all these steps, it becomes a law! And that, my friend, is how a bill becomes a law.

The Bill Is Proposed

The journey of a bill to become a law is a long and complex one. It all starts with an idea, which can come from a Representative or even a citizen. Once a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor. The Representative then talks to other Representatives to get their support. This is when the bill is introduced.

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 House. Once 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 it is sent to one of the House standing committees.

The Sponsor

The primary Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor". The sponsor is responsible for introducing the bill and guiding it through the legislative process. They work to build support for the bill among their colleagues and advocate for its passage. The sponsor is also responsible for responding to any questions or concerns about the bill and making any necessary revisions.

The Cosponsors

Other members of Congress who support the bill are called "cosponsors". Cosponsors can help the sponsor build support for the bill and advocate for its passage. They can also offer amendments or revisions to improve the bill. Having a large number of cosponsors can increase the chances of a bill passing.

The Process

The process of proposing a bill is a crucial step in the law-making process. It involves gaining support from fellow Representatives, introducing the bill in the House, and assigning it to the appropriate committee for further consideration. It is during this stage that the foundation for the bill's success is laid, and it is crucial for the sponsor and cosponsors to build a strong case for the bill's passage.

The Bill Is Introduced

So, you want to be a law? Well, buckle up, because it's a long journey from being a mere idea in someone's head to becoming an honest-to-goodness law of the land. And it all starts with being introduced...

Now, I could be introduced at a fancy party with canapes and champagne, but that's not how it works for bills. Oh no. In the US House of Representatives, I get placed in the hopper, which is a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. Yes, you heard that right. I get stuffed into a box. But that's not the end of the indignity. Oh no. Then, the bill clerk gives me a number. In the House, it starts with H.R. I mean, how rude! Do I look like a horse to you? Then, the reading clerk reads me out to all the Representatives. I mean, how embarrassing! I haven't even had a chance to choose my outfit yet! And if that wasn't enough, the Speaker of the House then sends me to one of the House standing committees. Talk about being sent to the principal's office on your first day of school!

But it's not all bad. You see, these committees are groups of Representatives who are experts on certain topics, like agriculture, education, or international relations. And they're going to review, research, and revise me before voting on whether to send me back to the House floor. So, it's like getting a makeover from a group of super-smart people who really know their stuff. And if they want even more information before making their decision, they might send me to a subcommittee, where I'll be examined even more closely and expert opinions will be gathered. It's like getting a spa treatment!

Once the committee is happy with me, they'll vote on whether to send me back to the House floor. And if they do, it's time for my close-up. That's right, it's time for me to be debated by the US House of Representatives. The Representatives will discuss me and explain why they agree or disagree with me. Then, the reading clerk will read me out section by section (yes, again!), and the Representatives will recommend changes. It's like getting feedback from a focus group! And once all the changes have been made, I'll be ready for the big vote.

So, there you have it, folks. The journey of a bill from being introduced to being voted on. It's a wild ride, but someone's got to do it if they want to become a law!

The Bill Goes to Committee

So, your bill has been proposed, introduced, and now it's time for the serious stuff: The Bill Goes to Committee. This is where things can get a little hairy, so hold on to your hats!

Committees are made up of groups of Representatives who are experts on a particular topic, like 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 they want more information before making their decision, they'll send the bill to a subcommittee for further examination and expert opinions.

Let's say the bill has been sent to a subcommittee. The subcommittee members will make changes to the bill and then vote on whether to send it back to the full committee. If the full committee likes what they see, they'll vote to send the bill back to the House floor, which is known as "ordering a bill reported".

Now, the committee will hold a "mark-up" session. This is where they'll make revisions and additions to the bill. If they make a lot of changes, they might decide to introduce a "clean bill", which includes all the proposed amendments. This new bill gets a shiny new number and heads to the floor, while the old bill gets tossed aside like yesterday's news.

Before the bill can be voted on, the chamber needs to approve, change, or reject all the committee amendments. Then, the committee staff gets to work on a written report explaining why they're all for the bill and why they want their amendments to be adopted. If any committee members disagree, they can write a dissenting opinion in the report.

In the House, most bills will take a detour to the Rules Committee before reaching the floor. This committee adopts rules that will govern how the bill is discussed in the House. A "closed rule", for example, puts strict limits on debate time and forbids any amendments. These rules can have a big say in whether the bill passes or not. But there are ways to get around the Rules Committee:

• Members can vote to suspend the rules (a two-thirds majority is needed for this)
• A discharge petition can be filed
• The House can use a Calendar Wednesday procedure

Whew, that was a lot! But your bill has survived the committee stage and is one step closer to becoming a law!

The Bill Is Voted On

Once a bill has been 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: 1) members can move rules to be suspended (requires a 2/3 vote); 2) a discharge petition can be filed 3) the House can use a Calendar Wednesday procedure.

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 Sent to the President

So, the bill has made it through the House and the Senate, but now it's time for the big leagues. The bill is sent to the President, who has three choices:

• Sign and pass the bill, and it becomes a law.
• Refuse to sign or veto the bill, sending it back to the House with the President's reasons for the veto. If the House and Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote on it. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law.
• Do nothing, also known as a pocket veto. If Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill does not become a law.

Now, the President has to make a decision. Will they pass the bill, or will they send it back to the drawing board? It's a tough choice, but someone's got to make it. And that someone is the President.

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