The Long Road: Bill To Law

The length of time it takes for a bill to become a law depends on several factors, including the number of committees it is referred to, whether it is passed by both chambers of Congress, and whether the President approves or vetoes it. The process begins with the introduction of a bill, which can be drafted by any member of Congress. The bill is then assigned a number and referred to a committee, which will examine and make changes to it. The committee may also hold hearings and refer the bill to a subcommittee for further review. Once the committee has finished marking up the bill, it is reported to the floor for a vote. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process. Once both bodies have voted to accept the bill, they must work out any differences and vote on the final version. The bill is then presented to the President for approval. The President can approve the bill, veto it, or take no action, which results in a pocket veto. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. This lengthy process can take months or even years, depending on the complexity of the bill and the level of support it receives.

Bill introduced to Congress

The process of a bill becoming a law in the United States is a lengthy one, and there are several steps that occur between a bill being introduced to Congress and it being passed. Firstly, the idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be proposed during their election campaign. Members of the public can also petition a bill by recommending a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, the members of 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 through a similar process in the other body. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any discrepancies between the two versions, and then both chambers vote on the same version. If it passes, they present it to the president. The president then has the option to approve the bill and sign it into law, or veto it. If the president chooses to veto, Congress can vote to override this, 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, in what is known as a 'pocket veto'.

Bill assigned 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 to a proposed bill, as well 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 can be split so that parts are sent to different committees. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees.

Committees are defined by certain subject matters 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, immigration policy, bankruptcy, patents, copyrights, and trademarks.

Each committee's jurisdiction is determined by the rules of each House and all measures are referred accordingly. Committees with jurisdiction over a bill will carefully examine it and determine its chances of passage by Congress. Committees 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 record.

If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is considered to be "dead".

Bill debated in committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to it. This committee stage is one of the most important phases of the legislative process.

Committees provide an intensive consideration of a proposed bill, as well as a forum for the public to be heard. There are currently 20 standing committees in the House and 16 in the Senate, as well as several select committees. 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.

The committee may seek input from relevant government departments and agencies, as well as request an official report from the Government Accountability Office on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law. The committee may also hold public hearings, during which Cabinet officers, high-ranking government officials, and interested private individuals testify either voluntarily or by subpoena.

After hearings are completed, the committee will usually go into a "markup" session, during which the views of both sides are studied in detail and a vote is taken to determine the committee's action on the bill. The committee may decide to report the bill favourably to the full chamber of Congress, with or without amendments, or unfavourably. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is said to be "ordered to be reported".

If substantial amendments are made to the bill during the markup session, the committee can order the introduction of a "clean bill" which will include the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number and will be sent to the full chamber, while the old bill is discarded. The chamber must then approve, change, or reject all committee amendments before conducting a final passage vote.

After the bill is reported, the committee staff prepares a written report explaining why they favour the bill and why they wish to see their amendments, if any, adopted. Committee members who oppose a bill may write a dissenting opinion, which is included in the report. The report is then sent back to the full chamber and is placed on the calendar.

Bill voted on by committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may also choose to 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 record. Hearings on the President's Budget, for example, are required to be held by the Committee on Appropriations in open session within 30 days of its transmittal to Congress.

The committee will then meet to "mark up" the bill, making 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".

The committee staff then prepares a written report explaining why they favor the bill and why they wish to see their amendments, if any, adopted. Committee members who oppose a bill sometimes write a dissenting opinion in the report. The report is sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar.

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.

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. Failure to act on a bill is equivalent to killing it.

Bill presented to the President

Once a bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for review. If the President approves of the bill, they will sign it and it becomes law. If the President takes no action for ten days while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law.

If the President opposes the bill, they may veto it. In this case, the bill will be sent back to Congress with a note listing the reasons for the veto. The chamber that originated the bill can then attempt to override the veto by a two-thirds vote of those present. If the veto is overridden by both chambers, the bill becomes law.

If the President does not sign the bill and Congress has adjourned before the ten-day period is up, there is a "pocket veto". In this case, the bill does not become law and cannot be overridden by Congress.

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