Understanding The Legislative Process In Our City

Laws are created to govern the lives of citizens and the operations of businesses and organisations. In the United States, laws are made by passing a bill. The process of turning a bill into a law involves several stages and begins with an idea, which can come from a citizen or a representative. The idea is then written down and introduced as a bill by a representative. The bill is then assigned to a committee, which reviews, discusses, and makes changes to it. Once the committee approves the bill, it is reported to the House floor for debate and voting. If the bill passes in the House, it moves to the Senate, where it undergoes similar procedures. After passing in both the House and the Senate, the bill is sent to the President for approval. The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or do nothing. If vetoed, the bill is sent back to the House and Senate, which can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote. If the President does nothing, the bill becomes law after a certain number of days, depending on whether Congress is in session. This process ensures citizen participation and transparency in lawmaking.

How a bill is proposed

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, citizen groups, or be proposed during their election campaign. Citizens who have ideas for laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If the Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills.

When a Representative has written a bill, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill in the hopes of getting their support for it. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the Representatives, it is ready to be introduced.

In the U.S., 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 U.S. House of Representatives. When a bill is 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 the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

In Australia, most bills are introduced into the House of Representatives and then sent to the Senate. Bills may start in the Senate, except for money and taxation bills. Most bills are introduced by government ministers, although other members of parliament can introduce their own bills, known as private members' or private senators' bills. Usually, a Minister who wants to introduce a bill gives written notice of their intention to do so.

The bill is introduced

When a bill is introduced, it is also assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee is not obligated to review or consider the bill. If the committee chooses not to review the bill during the 2-year period that the council is convened, the bill will die and must be introduced again when a new council is convened. If the committee chooses to review the bill, then it will normally conduct a hearing concerning the subject matter of the bill, where the committee will receive testimony from residents and government officials in support of and against the bill.

The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on. 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.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill is introduced, it is sent to a committee. Committees are groups of representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. The committee members review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send it back to the House floor. If the committee members want more information before deciding, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. In a subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.

If the committee approves a bill, it is sent or reported to the House floor, where it is ready to be debated. Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and representatives recommend changes. When all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

The process of reviewing and revising a bill in a committee is one of the most important steps in turning a bill into a law. It ensures that the bill is thoroughly vetted and amended before being presented to the full House for a vote. This process helps to protect the interests of citizens and ensure that the bill is in the best interest of the public.

The bill is reported

Once a bill has been approved by a committee, it is sent, or reported, to the House floor. At this stage, the bill is ready to be debated by the House of Representatives. Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and 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 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 vote yes, the bill passes in the House of Representatives. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the Senate.

The bill is voted on

Once a bill has been introduced, assigned to a committee, and reported, 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: 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 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.

In the U.S. Senate, senators vote by voice. Those who support the bill say "yea", and those who oppose it say "nay." If a majority of the Senators say "yea", the bill passes in the U.S. Senate and is ready to go to the President.

Frequently asked questions