Cecily Zamora
In the United States, a bill can become a law without the President's signature if it is not signed within 10 days while Congress is in session. This is known as a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress. If Congress adjourns before the 10-day period and the President does not sign off on the bill, it will also be vetoed by default.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What happens if the president does not sign a bill into law? | If the president does not sign a bill into law, it can still become law if Congress is in session. If Congress is not in session, the bill is vetoed by default. |
| What is a pocket veto? | A pocket veto occurs when the president does not sign a bill into law and Congress is not in session. |
| Can Congress override a pocket veto? | No, Congress cannot override a pocket veto. |
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What You'll Learn
A bill is introduced
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. The idea for a bill 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 citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. 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.
Once a bill is written, it needs a sponsor. The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill in hopes of gaining their support. Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some of the Representatives, it is ready to be 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 U.S. House of Representatives.
When a bill is introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, 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 the Senate, the bill is submitted to clerks on the Senate floor. Upon introduction, the bill will receive a designation based on the chamber of introduction, for example, H.R. or H.J.Res. for House-originated bills or joint resolutions and S. or S.J.Res. for Senate-originated measures. It will also receive a number, which is typically the next number available in sequence during that two-year Congress.
The bill is then assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee members are groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations. They review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send the bill back to the House floor.
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It goes to committee
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. Committees provide the most intensive consideration of a proposed bill and serve as a forum for the public to be heard.
The Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate refers the bill to the appropriate committee. Bills may be referred to more than one committee, and it may be split so that parts are sent to different committees. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees.
Committees have oversight responsibilities but no legislative jurisdiction. There are four standing joint committees of the two Houses with oversight responsibilities. The House may also create select committees or task forces to study specific issues and report on them to the House.
Each committee's jurisdiction is defined by certain subject matter under the rules of each House, and all measures are referred accordingly. For example, the Committee on the Judiciary in the House has jurisdiction over measures relating to judicial proceedings, constitutional amendments, immigration policy, bankruptcy, patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
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.
One of the first actions taken by a committee is to seek input from relevant departments and agencies about a bill. Frequently, the bill is also submitted to the Government Accountability Office with a request for an official report on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law.
Committees may hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill. Hearings allow the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, and supporters and opponents of the legislation to be put on the record.
After hearings are completed, the subcommittee usually will consider the bill in a session that is popularly known as the "markup" session. The views of both sides are studied in detail, and at the conclusion of the deliberation, a vote is taken to determine the action of the subcommittee. It may decide to report the bill favorably to the full committee, with or without amendment, or unfavorously, or without recommendation.
At full committee meetings, reports on bills may be made by subcommittees. Bills are read for amendment in committees by section, and members may offer germane amendments. Committee amendments are only proposals to change the bill as introduced and are subject to acceptance or rejection by the House itself. A vote of committee members is taken to determine whether the full committee will report the bill favorably, adversely, or without recommendation.
If the committee votes to report the bill favorably to the House, it may report the bill with or without amendments. If the committee has approved extensive amendments, the committee may decide to report the original bill with one "amendment in the nature of a substitute" consisting of all the amendments previously adopted, or it may introduce and report a new bill incorporating those amendments, commonly known as a "clean" bill.
If the committee votes to report the bill to the House, the committee staff writes a committee report. The report describes the purpose and scope of the bill and the reasons for its recommended approval. Generally, a section-by-section analysis sets forth precisely what each section is intended to accomplish. All changes in existing law must be indicated in the report, and the text of laws being repealed must be set out. This is known as the "Ramseyer" rule. A similar rule in the Senate is known as the "Cordon" rule.
Committee reports are perhaps the most valuable single element of the legislative history of a law. They are used by the courts, executive departments, and the public as a source of information regarding the purpose and meaning of the law.
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The committee reviews the bill
Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. The committee will then research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill, allowing the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, supporters, and opponents of the bill to be put on the record. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is considered to be "dead".
Committees are composed of groups of Congress members who are particularly interested in different topics, such as health or international affairs. The committee may refer the bill to a subcommittee for further review. Subcommittees have further specialization on a certain topic. The subcommittee may also make changes to the bill and must vote to refer the bill back to the full committee.
Once hearings and subcommittee review are completed, the committee will meet to "mark up" the bill. They will make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the "floor". If a committee votes not to report legislation to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. If the committee votes in favor of the bill, it is reported to the floor. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".
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The committee votes on the bill
Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. Committees provide the most intensive consideration of a proposed bill and are also the forum where the public is given the opportunity to be heard. The committee may also choose to hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill. Hearings allow the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, supporters, and opponents of the legislation to be put on the record.
Committees are divided into two main groups: standing committees and select committees. Standing committees have permanent jurisdiction over bills relating to a specific subject matter, such as health or international affairs. Select committees, on the other hand, are created to study specific issues and report on them to the House.
Each committee's jurisdiction is defined by certain subject matters, and all measures are referred accordingly. For example, the Committee on the Judiciary in the House has jurisdiction over measures relating to judicial proceedings, immigration policy, bankruptcy, patents, copyrights, and trademarks.
After hearings are completed, the committee will usually consider the bill in a session known as the "markup" session. The views of both sides are studied in detail, and at the conclusion of the deliberation, a vote is taken to determine the committee's action on the bill. The committee may decide to report the bill favorably to the full chamber of Congress, with or without amendments, or unfavorably, or without recommendation.
If the committee votes to report the bill favorably, it may be reported with or without amendments. If the committee has approved extensive amendments, it can decide to report the original bill with one "amendment in the nature of a substitute" consisting of all the amendments previously adopted, or it may introduce and report a new bill incorporating those amendments, commonly known as a "clean" bill.
If the committee votes not to report the bill, the bill dies. However, in the House, a bill can be discharged from the committee by a majority vote of the House membership (218 members).
Once the committee has finished its work, it prepares a written report explaining why they favor the bill and why they wish to see their amendments adopted. Committee members who oppose a bill may also write a dissenting opinion in the report. The report is then sent back to the full chamber and is placed on the calendar.
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The bill is sent to the president
Once a bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for review. The President can then choose to sign the bill into law. If the President does not approve of the bill, they can veto it. If the President takes no action for 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law. However, if no action is taken for 10 days and Congress has already adjourned, the bill will be pocket vetoed, meaning it will not become law and Congress cannot override this veto.
The President's decision to sign or veto a bill is based on a variety of factors, including their own political beliefs and the advice of their staff and members of their Cabinet. The President may also consider the potential impact of the bill on the country and its alignment with existing laws and policies. In some cases, the President may choose to veto a bill as a way to send a message or make a statement, even if they do not necessarily oppose all of its provisions.
When a bill is sent to the President, it is important for them to carefully consider the potential consequences of their decision. Signing a bill into law can have far-reaching effects on the lives of citizens and the course of the country. On the other hand, vetoing a bill can signal the President's opposition to certain provisions or policies. Ultimately, the President's decision is a critical step in the legislative process, and it can have significant implications for the country.
In addition to signing or vetoing a bill, the President also has the power to propose legislation. This allows them to directly influence the creation and modification of laws. The President can work with members of Congress to draft and introduce bills that reflect their priorities and agenda. This process involves collaboration and negotiation between the executive and legislative branches, with the goal of enacting laws that benefit the country.
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Frequently asked questions
Many bills have become law without the President's signature. If the President takes no action for 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law.
The process for a bill to become a law involves 9 steps. First, the bill is drafted and introduced by a member of the Senate or House of Representatives. The bill is then referred to a committee, which may choose to hold hearings. The bill is then reviewed by a subcommittee, which makes changes and votes to refer it back to the full committee. The committee will then meet to make changes and amendments, and if they vote in favor of the bill, it is reported to the floor. 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. When the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows the same route. If the bill is approved by both the House and Senate in identical form, the bill is sent to the President.
If the President opposes the bill, they may veto it.
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. This action is called a "pocket veto" and cannot be overridden by Congress.
