Cameron Miranda
Creating your own laws can be a fun and educational activity, but it's important to understand the process to ensure your law is effective and compliant. In the United States, the law-making process typically begins with a bill, which can be proposed by anyone, including citizens or members of Congress. This bill is then presented to a committee for review and discussion, and if accepted, it moves forward to the next stage. The bill is then debated and voted on by the chamber, and if passed, it moves to the next chamber, repeating the process. Once both chambers approve, they work together to finalize the bill before presenting it to the President for approval or veto. Understanding these steps can empower individuals to participate in the democratic process and make a difference in their communities.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can create a bill? | Anyone can create a bill, but it must be sponsored by a member of the House or Senate. |
| What is a bill? | A proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. |
| What is the process? | 1. Find a sponsor. 2. Present to the first chamber. 3. Repeat step 2 for the second chamber. 4. Present to committee. 5. If the committee approves, a report is made and added to the legislative history. 6. The President must respond within 10 days by signing it into law or vetoing it. |
| What is the legislative history? | All supporting documents created as a bill goes through the process to be enacted into law. It is used to understand the intent of the law so that it is not misconstrued over time. |
| What is the role of the committee? | The committee carefully reviews the bill and can suggest slight revisions. If the committee votes against it, the bill will not proceed. |
| What is the role of the chambers? | Each chamber votes on the bill. If the majority votes against it, the bill is laid to rest. If the majority votes in favor, it is referred to the next chamber. |
| What is the role of the President? | The President can approve the bill and sign it into law, or veto it. If the President does not respond within 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill is automatically enacted. |
| What is a veto? | If the President vetoes a bill, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill becomes a law. A pocket veto occurs when the President does not sign off on a bill before Congress is no longer in session, resulting in the bill being vetoed by default, which cannot be overridden. |
| What is an example of a teaching activity for creating laws? | Students create their own laws and simulate the legislative process by dividing into groups representing the House of Representatives and the Senate. They present their bills to their groups and can include descriptions, illustrations, and explanations of the problems they aim to address. |
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What You'll Learn
Identify a problem and propose a solution
Creating a law begins with identifying a problem and proposing a solution. This is the first step in the legislative process, where a bill is drafted to address a specific issue or improve a situation.
For example, let's say the problem you have identified is the lack of regulations around environmental protection in your community, which has led to pollution and degradation of natural resources. The proposed solution could be to create a law that enforces stricter emissions standards for local industries and promotes sustainable practices.
To initiate this process, you would need to find a sponsor for your bill. In the United States, this would be a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate who agrees to support your proposal. They would then present your bill to the relevant committee, which specializes in the area your bill focuses on, in this case, potentially a committee on environmental protection or natural resources.
The committee would carefully review your bill and decide whether to approve it. If they agree that your bill addresses a relevant problem and has merit, they will make any necessary revisions to perfect it and move forward. This could include adding specific details, such as cost estimates for implementing the new regulations, and ensuring it aligns with existing laws and the committee's jurisdiction.
If the committee approves your bill, it will be referred to the next chamber, where it will be debated and voted on. This process continues until your bill has passed through all the necessary chambers, with revisions and debates occurring at each stage.
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Find a sponsor
Although you don't have to be a member of Congress to write a bill, you do need a member of the House or Senate to sponsor it. A sponsor is a representative or senator who introduces a bill for consideration. The sponsor's signature must appear on the bill before it is accepted for introduction. The sponsor and any cosponsors are listed on the first page of a bill, before its main text.
You can find a sponsor by browsing members of Congress on Congress.gov. You can locate a member you are interested in by opening their member profile page and using the filters on the left-hand side of the screen to narrow down your results. For example, if you are only interested in legislation that the member sponsored or cosponsored in the 115th Congress, under “Congress”, click on “115”. You can also use the filters in combination with one another to further narrow down your results.
On the homepage, you can also select "Bill searches and lists" and then choose "House" or "Senate" next to "By Sponsor". On the next screen, select a Congress and locate the first letter of the member's last name, then click on it and locate the member in the list. This list allows you to browse the number of bills and amendments a member has sponsored or cosponsored in a table format.
If you are looking at a member profile page for a current member of Congress, you can click “get alerts” at the top left-hand side of the screen to sign up to receive an email each time that member sponsors or cosponsors legislation.
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Present to the first chamber
Once you have found a sponsor for your bill—a member of the House or Senate—it will be time to present it to the first chamber. This will be the chamber that your bill's sponsor is a member of. Each chamber has its own set of guidelines for time limits and general debate procedures. During the debate, an accurate account of the time used on both sides is kept, and the Chairman terminates the debate when all the time allowed under the rule has been consumed.
After the time for debate is up, the chamber that is reviewing your bill will vote on it. This vote will be recorded by an electronic device, except when the Speaker orders the vote to be recorded by other methods prescribed by the rules of the House. Each member is provided with an encrypted Vote-ID Card, which they will insert into a designated slot to cast their vote. If a member does not have their Vote-ID Card, or they wish to change their vote during the last five minutes of a vote, they may request a paper ballot from the Tally Clerk, who will then record the vote electronically.
If the vote passes, the bill will be referred to the next chamber and go through the same process again. If the vote does not pass, the bill will be laid to rest.
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Review and revision
The review process typically begins with a committee review. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee with expertise in the relevant area, such as health, education, or foreign policy. This committee meticulously scrutinizes the bill, often with the support of subcommittees, to ensure it is well-crafted and feasible. During this stage, slight revisions may be suggested to perfect the bill and prepare it for the next phase. The committee's review also involves researching, discussing, and making informed changes to the bill. If the committee or subcommittee votes against the bill, it is effectively terminated.
If the bill passes the committee stage, a report is generated, contributing to its legislative history. This legislative history is a compilation of supporting documents created throughout the bill's journey toward becoming law. It serves as a crucial reference for understanding the bill's intent, ensuring its accurate interpretation over time.
After the committee review, the bill is presented to the first chamber, which can be the House of Representatives or the Senate, depending on the bill's sponsor. Each chamber adheres to its own guidelines for time limits and debate procedures. Following the debate, the chamber votes on the bill. If the bill is rejected, it is laid to rest. However, if it passes, it moves on to the next chamber, repeating the same review and voting process.
Once the bill has passed through both chambers, any discrepancies between the two versions must be reconciled. This involves collaboration between the chambers to create a unified version of the bill. Subsequently, both chambers vote on this final version. If it garnishes sufficient support, the bill is presented to the president for consideration.
The president plays a pivotal role in the review and revision process. They have the power to approve the bill and sign it into law, making it enforceable for all citizens. Alternatively, the president can exercise their veto power, rejecting the bill. In most cases, Congress can override a presidential veto with a subsequent vote, transforming the bill into law despite the president's objections. However, if the president neither signs nor vetoes the bill before Congress adjourns, the bill receives a "pocket veto," effectively killing the legislation without the possibility of congressional override.
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President's approval
In the United States, Congress is the law-making branch of the federal government. 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 people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.
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. Each chamber has its own set of guidelines for time limits and general debate procedures. After the time for debate is up, the chamber that is reviewing the bill votes on it. If the vote is "nay", the bill is rejected. If the vote is "aye", it is referred to the next chamber and goes through the same process again.
Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president. The president then has several options. If the president agrees with the bill, they may sign it into law. The bill is then printed in the Statutes at Large, and all Americans are subject to the legislation.
If the president does not agree with the bill, they can veto it. A veto sends the bill back to Congress, which can then vote to override the veto. If the veto is overridden, 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 Congress is in session and the president takes no action within 10 days, the bill becomes law. If Congress adjourns before the 10 days are up and the president takes no action, then the bill dies and Congress may not vote to override.
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