Alabama's Lawmaking Process: Bills To Acts

The process of a bill becoming a law in Alabama involves several steps and requires the involvement of both chambers of the Alabama Legislature, as well as the Governor of Alabama. The Alabama Legislature, consisting of the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate, plays a crucial role in shaping the state's laws. With a dedicated commitment to transparency and accountability, the Legislature works to address the issues that matter to the people of Alabama. Through a collaborative effort, lawmakers introduce, debate, and vote on bills that have the potential to become laws. The Governor, as the chief executive of the state, also has significant legislative powers and holds the authority to sign or veto bills passed by the Legislature. Together, these branches of government navigate the complex path that transforms a bill into a law, shaping the legal landscape of Alabama.

Bills are filed and sent to committee

For a bill to be filed and sent to committee, it must first be introduced in either the Alabama House of Representatives or the Alabama Senate. A bill can only be filed by a lawmaker, although they may be assisted or given language by think tanks, organisations, or constituents. Once a bill is introduced, it will be referred to one or more standing committees. These committees will determine whether a bill should move forward, and they can also propose amendments.

The committees of each house meet and consider the bills that have been referred to them. Committee members will vote to approve the bill, amend it, or send it to a subcommittee for further discussion. Bills that receive a majority vote are reported favourably, given a second reading, and placed on the regular calendar. Bills that do not receive a majority vote are typically dead.

The Alabama Legislature meets every year during a regular session. Sessions are limited to 30 legislative days over 105 calendar days. A regular session usually starts in January and runs for about 15 weeks.

No bill can become an act until it has been read on three separate days in each chamber. The first reading occurs when the bill is first introduced, and reference to the committee immediately follows. The second reading occurs after the committee has voted to approve the bill and before it is placed on the regular calendar. The third reading occurs when the whole house studies, debates, and amends the bill.

Committee considers the bill

Once a bill has been filed and sent to committee, the next step in the process of becoming a law in Alabama is for the committee to consider the bill. The committees of each house—the Alabama House of Representatives and the Alabama Senate—meet to discuss and consider the bills that have been referred to them. At this stage, the committee members have several options: they can vote to approve the bill, amend it, or send it to a subcommittee for further discussion.

The committees play an important role in shaping the bill. They can propose amendments and make changes to the bill's language. This is also an opportunity for the bill to be more closely examined and discussed before it moves forward in the legislative process. If the committee members believe that the bill warrants further discussion and input, they can send it to a subcommittee. This step allows a smaller group of committee members to delve deeper into the bill's specifics and make recommendations.

For a bill to advance further, it needs to receive a majority vote from the committee members. Bills that receive this majority vote are reported favorably, given a second reading, and placed on the regular calendar. This second reading provides another opportunity for the bill to be discussed and amended before it moves forward. It is important to note that bills that do not receive a majority vote at this stage typically do not advance further and are considered dead.

The committee's consideration of the bill is a crucial step in the legislative process. It allows for a more detailed examination of the bill's contents, potential amendments, and the opportunity for further discussion through subcommittees. This step ensures that bills are thoroughly reviewed and shaped by the expertise and input of committee members before advancing to the next stage, which is being debated on the floor of the House or Senate.

Bill is debated on the floor

Once a bill has been filed, sent to committee, and considered by the committee, it is then debated on the floor. This is the third step in the process of a bill becoming a law in Alabama.

Bills are listed on the calendar in the order they are reported from the committee. The Rules Committee can vote to place a bill on the Special Order Calendar to bring it to the top of the calendar. Otherwise, the bill must wait its turn, which can take time given the number of bills filed.

When the bill is reached on the calendar, the bill gets its third reading. At this time, the whole house studies, debates, and amends the bill. Separate votes are taken on each amendment or change to the bill.

After the bill has been debated, each member votes. If a simple majority (51%) of those present vote in favor of the bill, it passes. If not, it fails.

Governor decides to sign or veto

Once a bill has been passed by both chambers of the Alabama Legislature, it is sent to the Governor for review. The Governor may then choose to sign the bill into law. If the Governor chooses to take no action, the bill will usually become law. However, if the Governor disapproves of the bill, they can veto it, and it will be returned to the Legislature. The Legislature can then vote to override the Governor's veto and pass the bill into law with a simple majority (51%) vote. This is in contrast to many other states, where a two-thirds majority is required to override a veto.

The Governor of Alabama has the power to sign, or veto, bills passed by the Legislature. They can also veto items of appropriation bills at their discretion and return bills to the Legislature with an 'executive amendment'. The Governor is the chief executive of the State and is responsible for ensuring that laws are faithfully executed. They also have the power to convene the Legislature in extraordinary (special) sessions.

The Governor's staff is divided into several units, including administrative, operations, legal, communications, legislative, appointments, and constituent services. The Governor may appoint a legal advisor and other attorneys to advise them in their official capacity.

Legislature can override veto

In Alabama, the Governor has the power to veto a bill, but the Legislature can override this veto. The Governor is the chief executive of the State and has the power to "faithfully execute" laws, acting as the Commander-in-Chief of the militia, filling vacancies in local elective offices, and more.

The Governor's veto power allows them to block a bill from becoming a law. However, the Legislature can override this veto with a simple majority vote of 51%. This process is a reflection of the "checks and balances" system in the U.S. Constitution, which aims to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful.

The veto and override process in Alabama mirrors the federal system. Once a bill has passed both chambers of the Legislature, it is presented to the Governor, who may sign it into law or veto it. If the Governor vetoes the bill, it is returned to the originating chamber of the Legislature for reconsideration. If two-thirds of that chamber still approve the bill, it is sent to the other chamber for a similar reconsideration. If two-thirds of both chambers of the Legislature approve the vetoed bill, it becomes law, overriding the Governor's veto.

The Legislature's power to override a gubernatorial veto is an important check on the executive branch's power. It ensures that the Legislature retains the ultimate law-making authority, even if the Governor disagrees with a particular bill. This process encourages collaboration and compromise between the legislative and executive branches, as both must work together to enact laws that reflect the interests of their constituents.

The ability to override a veto also provides a safeguard against the potential abuse of power by the Governor. If the Governor were to veto a bill that is widely supported by the people and their elected representatives, the Legislature could override the veto and ensure that the will of the people is respected. This process helps maintain the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches in Alabama.

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