Gavin Howe
The process of how a bill becomes a law is a complex one and can vary significantly from bill to bill. In the US, the legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill, which can be proposed by a sitting member of the US Senate or House of Representatives, or be petitioned by citizen groups. Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a committee, which researches, discusses, and makes changes to it. The bill then goes through a process of voting and, if passed, is sent to the other body to undergo the same process. If the bill passes both bodies of Congress, a conference committee is formed to work out any differences between the two versions. The bill is then sent to the President for review. The President can approve the bill and sign it into law or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill becomes a law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can introduce a bill? | Any member of Congress, either from the Senate or the House of Representatives, or everyday citizens and advocacy groups. |
| What is the process after a bill is introduced? | The bill is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to 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. |
| What happens if the bill passes both bodies of Congress? | Both bodies must work out any differences between the two versions. If an agreement is reached, the committee members prepare a conference report with recommendations for the final bill. |
| What happens after the final bill is agreed upon? | The bill is sent to the President for review. A bill becomes a law if signed by the President or if not signed within 10 days and Congress is in session. |
| What happens if the President does not sign the bill? | If Congress adjourns before the 10 days are up and the President has not signed the bill, it does not become law. This is called a "pocket veto" and cannot be overridden by Congress. |
| What happens if the President vetoes the bill? | Congress may attempt to override the veto. If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the President's veto is overruled, and the bill becomes a law. |
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What You'll Learn
A bill is proposed by a member of the House or Senate, or by citizens
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 or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.
Any member of Congress – either from the Senate or the House of Representatives – who has an idea for a law can draft a bill. These ideas come from the Congress members themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The primary Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor". The other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors". Once the bill is drafted, it must be introduced. 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.
In the House, legislation is handed to the clerk of the House or placed in the hopper. In the Senate, members must gain recognition from the presiding officer to announce the introduction of a bill during the morning hour. If any senator objects, the introduction of the bill is postponed until the next day. The bill is then assigned a number and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) for copying.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. Bills may be referred to more than one committee, and parts of a bill may be sent to different committees. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees. The committee will hold a "mark-up" session during which it will make revisions and additions.
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. 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 and discussion
Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee for research and discussion. The Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate refers the bill to the appropriate committee, although the actual referral decision is often made by the House or Senate parliamentarian. The bill is placed on the calendar of the committee to which it has been assigned.
Committees are composed of groups of Congress members with a particular interest in the topic of the bill, such as health or international affairs. Bills may be referred to more than one committee, and parts of a bill may be sent to different committees. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees. If a committee fails to act on a bill, it is effectively killed.
A bill can be released from a committee without a proper committee vote through a discharge petition signed by the majority of House members. Comments on the bill's merit may be requested by government agencies, and a bill can be assigned to a subcommittee by the Chairman. Hearings may be held, and subcommittees report their findings to the full committee. The full committee then votes on the bill, ordering it to be reported. The committee will hold a "mark-up" session to make revisions and additions to the bill.
After this process, the bill is put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting.
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The bill is voted on by the first body of Congress
The legislative process is a critical aspect of the American democratic system, providing a practical safeguard for the protection of the minority and allowing all sides to be heard and express their views. 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 the first body of Congress for a vote.
The first body of Congress to vote on a bill can be either the House of Representatives or the Senate, depending on the bill's sponsor. If a Representative from the House sponsors the bill, it is introduced in the House. Conversely, if a Senator is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the Senate. The legislative process begins with the introduction of the bill, which can be initiated by any member of Congress, including Representatives and Senators, or even everyday citizens and advocacy groups.
After the bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Both the House and the Senate have committees composed of groups of Congress members interested in specific topics. These committees play a crucial role in shaping the bill through research, discussion, and amendments. Once the committee has completed its work, the bill is ready to be put before the first body of Congress for a vote.
The voting process in the first body of Congress can vary between the House and the Senate due to their different rules and procedures. The House typically processes legislation through a majority vote, while the Senate favours deliberation and debate before voting. Senators have significant procedural leverage, allowing them to influence the process.
If the bill passes the first body of Congress, it moves on to the other body, where it undergoes a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. This step ensures that both bodies of Congress have an opportunity to provide their input and make amendments to the bill. It is important to note that the bill must pass through both bodies of Congress to become a law, highlighting the critical role of each chamber in the legislative process.
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The bill is sent to the other body of Congress for a similar process
The legislative process is a matter that every citizen should be well informed about to understand and appreciate the work of Congress. The process by which a bill becomes a law is rarely predictable and can vary significantly from one bill to another. However, there are some common stages that a bill goes through in its journey to becoming a law.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before the 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. This means that when the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows a similar route through committees and finally to the floor. The bill is then assigned a number (e.g. HR 1 or S 1) and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) for copying. The bill is then referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees. Bills are placed on the calendar of the committee to which they have been assigned.
The bill can be assigned to a subcommittee by the Chairman, and hearings may be held. Subcommittees report their findings to the full committee. Finally, there is a vote by the full committee, and the bill is "ordered to be reported." A committee will hold a "mark-up" session during which it will make revisions and additions. If the bill passes this stage, it goes to the other body of Congress, where it undergoes a similar process. This means that the bill will be assigned a number, copied, and referred to the relevant committee. It will go through the necessary subcommittees, hearings, and votes before being reported and marked up.
Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Members from each house form a conference committee and meet to work out the differences. The committee is usually made up of senior members appointed by the presiding officers of the committee that originally dealt with the bill. The representatives from each house work to maintain their version of the bill. If the Conference Committee reaches a compromise, it prepares a written conference report, which is submitted to each chamber. The conference report must be approved by both the House and the Senate.
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The bill is sent to the President for approval
The legislative process is a matter about which every person should be well informed to understand the work 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 a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to 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. 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 for approval. If the President approves of the legislation, it is signed and becomes law. The President can approve the bill and sign it into law. Or the President can refuse to approve a bill. This is called a veto. If the President chooses to veto a bill, in most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto, and the bill becomes a law.
However, 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 it cannot be overridden by Congress. If the President vetoes the bill, it is sent back to Congress with a note listing their reasons.
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Frequently asked questions
Any member of Congress can introduce a bill, which 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 or be proposed by everyday citizens and advocacy groups.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before the 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.
After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President. If the President approves of the legislation, it is signed and becomes law. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both the Senate and the House. If they succeed, the bill becomes a law.
