Kara Sears
Creating a law is a complex and costly process. While there are no definitive figures on the cost of creating a single bill, the financial burden on taxpayers is significant. The process of lawmaking involves multiple stages, each with associated expenses, from research and drafting to legislative debate and enforcement. The cost of creating a law varies depending on the jurisdiction and the specific legislation, with factors such as the complexity of the bill and the number of days in the legislative session influencing the overall price tag. Despite the challenges in calculating precise costs, it is clear that lawmaking is an expensive endeavour, with the price of each bill running into thousands of dollars.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average cost of passing laws in state legislatures | $717 to $890 per statute |
| Cost of enforcing laws | Variable |
| Cost of lawmaking in Georgia from 2019-2020 | $78,177,432 |
| Cost per bill or resolution filed in Georgia from 2019-2020 | $17,166.76 |
| Cost per enacted bill in Georgia from 2019-2020 | $125,083.89 |
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What You'll Learn
The cost of enforcing laws
While there are no definitive answers to the cost of enforcing laws, there are some estimates and calculations that provide insight into the financial aspects of the legislative process. The cost of enforcing laws is a significant aspect of governing and it is essential for taxpayers to understand the expenses associated with the legislative process.
The process of creating and enforcing laws involves multiple steps, each contributing to the overall cost. In the United States, the legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. These bills can originate from members of Congress or be proposed during their election campaigns. Citizen groups also have the ability to petition for new laws or amendments by recommending them to their representatives. Once introduced, a bill undergoes a journey through committees, research, debates, and votes before potentially becoming a law.
The expenses incurred during this process can vary greatly. The R Street Institute provides some calculations for the costs of legislating in Georgia. In the fiscal years 2019 and 2020, the Georgia Senate, House of Representatives, and joint General Assembly offices expended a total of $78,177,432, according to the governor's annual budget report. This amount includes operational costs such as salaries for lawmakers and support staff, benefits, and services. While legislators' salaries make up only a small portion of these expenses, the cost per bill or resolution can be calculated by dividing this total by the number of bills and resolutions introduced. For Georgia in 2019-2020, this amounted to $17,176.76 per bill or resolution filed. However, if only signed legislation is considered, the cost per enacted bill rises dramatically to $125,083.89.
It is important to note that these costs are not solely dependent on the number of bills and resolutions, as lawmakers have other responsibilities beyond passing legislation. They also oversee constituent services, assist constituents in navigating government bureaucracies, and introduce resolutions commending and memorializing constituents. These activities are meaningful and important, but the primary role of lawmakers is to create and enforce laws, which comes at a significant cost to taxpayers.
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Taxpayers shoulder the expense
The process of creating a law comes at a cost, and taxpayers ultimately shoulder the expense. The cost of lawmaking is significant, and it's important to recognise that taxpayers bear the burden of these expenses. While the exact amount may vary, it is clear that taxpayers' money is spent on the legislative process.
In the fiscal years 2019 and 2020, the Georgia Senate, House of Representatives, and joint General Assembly offices spent a total of $78,177,432, according to the governor's annual budget report. This amount includes operational costs such as salaries for lawmakers and support staff, benefits, and services. While legislators' salaries make up only a small portion of these expenses, the cost per piece of legislation can be substantial.
The cost of creating a law can be calculated by dividing the total expenditure on lawmaking by the number of bills and resolutions. For example, in Georgia during the 2019-2020 legislative session, the cost per bill or resolution filed was $17,176.76. However, if only signed legislation is considered, the cost per enacted bill rises dramatically to $125,083.89. These calculations provide insight into the financial burden borne by taxpayers for each piece of legislation.
It is worth noting that the cost of legislating is not limited to the creation of laws. The enforcement of laws also incurs significant expenses, which are ultimately shouldered by taxpayers. Additionally, lawmakers engage in various other activities, such as overseeing constituent services and introducing resolutions. While these activities may not result in new laws, they are still essential functions of lawmakers and contribute to the overall cost of governance.
The specific amount that taxpayers pay for each bill or resolution may vary depending on various factors, and it is challenging to determine an exact price tag. The time taken to draft, review, and debate a bill can influence its cost. Nonetheless, taxpayers ultimately bear the cost of the legislative process, including the creation and enforcement of laws.
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Operational costs and salaries
The operational costs and salaries of lawmakers are significant expenses associated with the legislative process. In the fiscal years 2019 and 2020, the Georgia Senate, House of Representatives, and joint General Assembly offices spent a total of $78,177,432, according to the governor's annual budget report. While lawmakers' salaries account for a small portion of these expenses, they also rely on research specialists, legislative counsel, and support staff, whose salaries contribute to the overall operational costs.
The process of drafting a bill incurs costs as it requires the involvement of various professionals. Each bill begins as a draft composed by a Bureau of Legislative Research (BLR) staff attorney at the request of a legislator or state agency. These drafts undergo a legal review, a grammar review, and multiple attorney reviews before being introduced. The introduction of a bill requires the assistance of the Clerk of the House and/or the Secretary of the Senate.
The time spent on drafting a bill also impacts operational costs. Some bills may take up an entire session, while others can be completed in about three days. The complexity of the legislation and whether it is based on an existing idea or document can affect the time and resources required.
While it is challenging to determine the exact cost per bill, calculations can be made based on the total expenditure and the number of bills introduced or enacted. For example, in Georgia's 2019-2020 legislative session, the total expenditure of $78,177,432, divided by the total number of bills and resolutions filed (4,554), results in an estimated cost of $17,166.76 per bill or resolution. However, if we consider only the signed legislation (625 bills), the cost per enacted bill increases significantly to $125,083.89.
It is important to note that these calculations do not include the costs of enforcing the laws once they are made, which can be a significant additional expense.
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Research specialists and legislative counsel
The cost of creating a law involves two expenses: the cost of making laws and the cost of enforcing them. While there are no definitive figures on the overall cost of creating a law, the average cost of passing laws in state legislatures is estimated to be between $717 and $890 per statute. This, of course, does not include the cost of enforcing the laws once they are made.
The legislative counsel, on the other hand, is a nonpartisan and nonpolitical office dedicated to providing legislative drafting services to members and committees. The office maintains an attorney-client relationship with members of the legislature and the governor, offering legal services and guidance. One of their principal functions is to prepare legislative drafts for legislative proposals, including bills, constitutional amendments, and resolutions. The legislative counsel's office also prepares the Legislative Counsel's Digest, which provides a brief summary of the bill's effect, and maintains public information sites on pending and existing legislation.
Both research specialists and legislative counsel are integral to the law-making process. They ensure that the legal research is thorough and accurate, and that the legislative drafts are prepared with expertise and nonpartisanship. While the exact cost of their contributions to creating a law may vary, their roles are invaluable in terms of the time and expertise they contribute to the process.
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Cost per bill or resolution
The cost of creating a law varies depending on the jurisdiction and the complexity of the legislation. However, according to the R Street Institute, the total cost of lawmaking in Georgia for the fiscal years 2019 and 2020 was $78,177,432. This amount includes operational costs such as salaries for lawmakers and support staff, benefits, and other services.
When divided by the total number of bills and resolutions filed during that period, the cost per bill or resolution comes out to $17,166.76. However, if only signed legislation is considered, the cost per enacted bill increases dramatically to $125,083.89.
It is worth noting that the cost of creating a law is not just financial. The process of drafting, reviewing, and debating a bill requires significant time and resources from lawmakers, research specialists, legislative counsel, and other support staff. Additionally, there may be costs associated with enforcing the laws once they are enacted.
While it is challenging to assign a specific price tag to each bill or resolution, it is clear that the legislative process entails significant expenses that are ultimately borne by taxpayers. These costs are an essential consideration in understanding the impact of lawmaking on the public.
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Frequently asked questions
The cost of creating a law varies depending on the complexity of the legislation and the number of people involved in its creation. The cost of enforcing a law once it is made should also be taken into account.
The cost of creating a law includes the salaries of lawmakers and support staff, benefits, services, and the expenses of research specialists and legislative counsel. The time taken to create a law also influences the cost, with more complex laws requiring more time and resources.
According to calculations by the R Street Institute and Newnan Times-Herald, taxpayers paid $17,166.76 per bill or resolution filed in Georgia during the 2019-2020 fiscal years. However, this cost increases dramatically when only considering signed legislation, resulting in a cost of $125,083.89 per enacted bill.
Yes, there may be additional costs associated with the time taken for the drafting, legal review, and grammar review processes. These processes may involve multiple reviews by staff attorneys and legislators, increasing the overall cost of creating a law.
