The Legislative Process: Resolutions To Laws

In the context of law, a resolution is a motion that is often in writing and has been adopted by a deliberative body, such as a corporation's board or the house of a legislature. In the United States, a resolution is a proposal made in writing, while a motion is a verbal proposal. Resolutions are not laws but rather expressions of the sentiment of either the House or the Senate. There are four types of resolutions: simple resolutions, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and bills. Bills are the primary vehicle used for proposing congressional action and, if passed by the House and Senate and signed by the President, become binding laws. Resolutions, on the other hand, are used for internal chamber affairs and to express opinions or purposes on a given matter.

The four principal forms of congressional action

Bills

The bill is the form used for most legislation, whether permanent or temporary, general or special, public or private. Bills originating in the House of Representatives are designated by the letters "H.R." and are presented to the President for action when approved in identical form by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Bills deal with domestic and foreign issues and programs, and they also appropriate money to various government agencies and programs.

Joint Resolutions

Joint resolutions may originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate and there is little practical difference between a bill and a joint resolution. Both are subject to the same procedure, except for a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution. On approval of such a resolution by two-thirds of both the House and Senate, it is sent directly to the Administrator of General Services for submission to the individual states for ratification and is not presented to the President for approval. Joint resolutions become law in the same manner as bills.

Concurrent Resolutions

Matters affecting the operations of both the House of Representatives and the Senate are usually initiated by means of concurrent resolutions. Concurrent resolutions must be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate but are not presented to the President for action. They are used to make or amend rules that apply to both houses and to express the sentiments of both houses.

Simple Resolutions

A simple resolution addresses matters entirely within the prerogative of one house, such as revising the standing rules of one chamber. Simple resolutions are also used to express the sentiments of a single house, such as offering condolences to the family of a deceased member of Congress. Simple resolutions do not require the approval of the other house nor the signature of the President, and they do not have the force of law.

The process of a bill becoming a law

If the bill passes both chambers in identical form, it is then presented to the President for approval. If the President signs the bill, it becomes a law and is enacted. However, if the President vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if Congress votes to override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.

It is important to note that resolutions are different from bills. Resolutions are expressions of the "sentiments" of either the House or the Senate and are not binding laws. There are four types of resolutions: simple resolutions, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions. Simple resolutions address matters within a single chamber and do not require approval from the other chamber or the President. Joint resolutions require approval from both chambers and the President, similar to bills. Concurrent resolutions address matters impacting both chambers and must be passed by both but do not require the President's signature.

Overall, the process of a bill becoming a law involves introduction in one chamber, consideration and passage by the other chamber, potential approval by the President, and enactment as a law. Resolutions, on the other hand, are used for expressing opinions or purposes of a legislative body and are not laws themselves.

The difference between a resolution and a bill

The process of lawmaking begins with the introduction of a proposal in one of four principal forms: the bill, the joint resolution, the concurrent resolution, and the simple resolution. While a bill is the form used for most legislation, resolutions are expressions of the "sentiments" of either the House or Senate and are not laws.

Bills

A bill is a legislative proposal from the House of Representatives or the Senate within the United States Congress. Bills are assigned a number in the order they are introduced, starting at the beginning of each Congress. They are prefixed with "H.R." when introduced in the House and "S." when introduced in the Senate.

Public bills pertain to matters that affect the general public or classes of citizens, while private bills affect certain individuals and organisations.

If passed by the House and Senate and signed by the President, bills become binding laws and part of the United States Code.

Resolutions

Resolutions are not laws but must be passed by both houses and signed by the President to take legal effect. They are of three types: joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions.

Joint Resolutions

Joint resolutions may originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate and are designated "H.J.Res." or "S.J.Res." followed by a number. They are subject to the same procedure as bills, except when proposing an amendment to the Constitution. In the latter case, they are sent directly to the Administrator of General Services for submission to the individual states for ratification and do not require the President's signature.

Concurrent Resolutions

Matters affecting the operations of both the House of Representatives and the Senate are usually initiated by means of concurrent resolutions. They are designated "H.Con.Res." or "S.Con.Res." followed by a number and must be passed by both chambers but do not require the President's signature or have the force of law.

Simple Resolutions

A simple resolution addresses matters entirely within the prerogative of one house and does not require the approval of the other house, the President's signature, or have the force of law. They are designated "H.Res." or "S.Res." followed by a number.

What is a joint resolution?

In the United States, a joint resolution is one of four types of legislation that can be passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The other types are simple resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and bills. Joint resolutions are introduced simultaneously in both houses of Congress and must be approved in identical forms by both chambers. If any changes are made in one chamber, the same change must be made in the other.

Once approved by both chambers, a joint resolution becomes law through the signature of the president or by Congress overriding a presidential veto. The exception is for proposals to amend the US Constitution, which do not require presidential approval and are instead submitted directly to the states for ratification.

In practice, there is little difference between a joint resolution and a bill. Joint resolutions are considered to have the same effect as bills, except that they do not become statutes or acts. However, they do have the force of law. Joint resolutions are generally used for short-term, ad-hoc changes to American law. For example, they are used to authorise or continue emergency appropriations, create temporary commissions or exceptions to existing law, or terminate national emergency declarations. They are also used to propose amendments to the Constitution.

What is a concurrent resolution?

A concurrent resolution is a legislative measure that is passed by both houses of a bicameral legislature (both the House of Representatives and the Senate) but does not become law. It is non-binding and does not require the approval of the president. Concurrent resolutions are used to regulate the internal affairs of the legislature that adopted them or for other purposes that do not require legal authority, such as awards or recognitions.

In the United States Congress, a concurrent resolution is passed by both the House and the Senate but is not presented to the President for signature. It is used to address the sentiments of both chambers or to deal with issues affecting both houses. For example, a concurrent resolution may be used to provide for a recess of more than three days during a session of Congress, to permit the use of the Capitol rotunda, or to ask the President to return a bill before it is signed or vetoed.

Concurrent resolutions are designated as "H.Con.Res." if they originate in the House or "S.Con.Res." if they originate in the Senate, followed by an individual number. They must be passed in the same form by both houses but do not require the President's signature and do not have the force of law.

Concurrent resolutions are distinct from joint resolutions, which are also passed by both the House and the Senate but require the President's signature to become law.

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