Keith Mack
The process of a bill becoming a law can be lengthy and complex, varying between different governments. In the US, a bill can go through nine steps before becoming a law. The process begins with an idea, which can come from anyone, and a Senator or Assembly Member will author the bill. The bill is then introduced and assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes. Following this, the bill is put before the chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to repeat the process. Once both bodies have voted to accept the bill, they must agree on any differences between the two versions. The bill is then sent to the President, who can approve and sign it into law, refuse to approve it, or take no action. If the President chooses to veto the bill, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill becomes a law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can propose a bill? | A sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, during their election campaign, or by people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress |
| Who drafts the bill? | The member of Congress who supports the bill is called the "sponsor" and other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors" |
| What happens after the bill is drafted? | The bill is introduced in the House if a Representative is the sponsor and in the Senate if a Senator is the sponsor |
| What happens after the bill is introduced? | The bill is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill |
| What happens after the committee stage? | The bill is put before the chamber to be voted on |
| What happens 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 |
| What happens once both bodies vote to accept a bill? | They must work out any differences between the two versions and send the bill to the President |
| What happens when the President receives the bill? | The President can approve the bill and sign it into law, or refuse to approve it, which is called a veto |
| What happens if the President vetoes the bill? | In most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto and the bill becomes a law |
| What happens if the President does not sign off on a bill and Congress is no longer in session? | The bill will be vetoed by default, called a "pocket veto", which cannot be overridden by Congress |
| What is the process in California? | The bill goes to the Governor, who can sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without their signature, or veto it |
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What You'll Learn
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law
After the committee stage, the bill is presented to the floor of the chamber for additional debate and voting on any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members' voting. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it moves to the other body, where it undergoes a similar process of committee review, debate, and voting. Once both the House and Senate have approved the bill, they must reconcile any differences between their respective versions. This can involve negotiations and compromises to reach a final version that both chambers can accept.
After passing both chambers of Congress, the bill is sent to the President for consideration. The President has several options: they can approve the bill and sign it into law, take no action, or explicitly veto it. If the President takes no action for a certain period while Congress is in session (typically ten days), the bill automatically becomes law. On the other hand, if the President opposes the bill, they can veto it. However, Congress can override the presidential veto by passing the bill again with a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate. In this case, the bill becomes a law even without the President's approval.
The process ensures that there are multiple checks and balances in place to thoroughly review and debate proposed legislation before it becomes law. It also allows for input from various stakeholders, including legislators, citizens, and special interest groups, highlighting the complex nature of lawmaking in a democratic system.
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A bill must be introduced by a member of Congress
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. The idea for a bill can come from anyone—a citizen, an advocacy group, or a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives. Bills can be proposed during election campaigns or by petitioning a member of Congress. Once an idea for a bill has been conceived, a member of Congress must introduce it. Both Assembly Members and Senators are limited to introducing 50 bills per two-year session.
The member of Congress who introduces a bill is called the "sponsor". Other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors". 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. Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation.
After a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Committees are organised under subcommittees with further specialisation on a certain topic. Committees and subcommittees will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill before voting on it. If a committee votes not to report legislation to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".
Once the bill reaches the floor, there is additional debate, and members of the full chamber vote to approve any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members voting. 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. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions.
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The bill is assigned to a committee for research, discussion, and changes
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee will often refer the bill to a subcommittee for study and hearings. The subcommittee will make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee. When the subcommittee's review is completed, the committee will meet to make additional changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the "floor". This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".
The committee structure is organised under subcommittees, with further specialisation on a certain topic. For example, a bill about healthcare policy would likely be assigned to a committee specialising in health. The committee members are usually chosen based on their knowledge and experience in the relevant field.
The committee will review the bill and may make changes and amendments. They will also hold hearings to gather input from experts and stakeholders. The committee will then vote on whether to report the bill to the full chamber of Congress. If the committee votes not to report the legislation, the bill dies. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor, and additional debate and voting will take place.
The committee stage is a critical part of the legislative process, as it allows for a thorough review and discussion of the bill. It also provides an opportunity for stakeholders and experts to provide input and for changes to be made to improve the bill. The committee process helps to ensure that the legislation is well-considered and has been thoroughly vetted before it moves forward in the legislative process.
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The bill is put before Congress to be voted on
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and makes changes to it. The bill is then put before Congress to be voted on. This is a crucial step in the legislative process, where the bill undergoes a full and open discussion, allowing for amendments and improvements before it becomes law.
The bill is presented to the Senate or Assembly Rules Committee, which assigns it to the appropriate policy committee for its first hearing. During this hearing, the author presents the bill, and people testify in support of or against it. The committee then takes action on the bill, making any necessary changes. This process ensures that all sides of an issue are heard and considered before the bill advances further.
The bill then goes through deliberation and voting in the Senate and the House of Representatives, the two chambers of Congress. The Senate engages in debate and deliberation before voting, while the House processes legislation through a majority vote. This step may involve multiple votes and discussions as the bill is refined and amended based on the input of Congress members.
The specific procedures and rules governing the voting process may vary between the Senate and the House. For example, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation, while only the Senate can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties. These differences highlight the complexity of the legislative process and the importance of understanding the inner workings of Congress when a bill is put to a vote.
After the bill has been voted on and passed by both chambers of Congress, it moves forward in the legislative process. The bill then goes to the President or Governor for approval, who can choose to sign it into law, veto it, or let it become law without their signature. This stage involves further scrutiny and consideration before the bill can officially become a law.
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The President can approve the bill, or veto it
Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which researches, discusses, and makes changes to it. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to undergo a similar process. Once both bodies have voted to accept a bill, they must reconcile any differences between the two versions. After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President.
The President can then choose to approve the bill and sign it into law. Alternatively, the President can refuse to approve a bill, which is called a veto. If the President does not sign off on a bill and Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress.
If the President chooses to veto a bill, Congress can usually vote to override that veto, and the bill becomes a law. A Governor's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses, for instance. However, if the President vetoes a bill and Congress has adjourned, there is a "pocket veto", and the bill will not become law.
If the President approves of the bill, they sign and date it and deposit it with the Secretary of State, who assigns it a chapter number. The bill is then an official record and law of the state.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law.
Anyone can propose a bill. Ideas can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, be proposed during their election campaign, or be petitioned by people or citizen groups.
Once a bill is drafted, it must be introduced and then assigned to a committee. The committee will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill before putting it 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. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President.
The President can approve the bill and sign it into law, refuse to approve the bill (veto), or take no action. If the President chooses to veto a bill, Congress can vote to override that veto and the bill becomes a law. If the President does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default (pocket veto), and this cannot be overridden by Congress.
There is no definitive answer as it depends on various factors such as the number of changes made by committees and subcommittees, the time taken for debates and voting, and the time taken by the President to review the bill.
