How Bills Become Laws: 3 Key Steps

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one. In the US, there are three branches of government: the executive, the legislative, and the judiciary. The legislative branch is responsible for creating and modifying laws. In the US, this is Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Here are three ways a bill becomes a law:

1. A bill is drafted and introduced: Any member of Congress can propose a bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. Once drafted, the bill is introduced and given a number (e.g., HR 1 or S 1). It is then sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO), where copies are made.

2. The bill goes through committee review: The bill is referred to one or more committees, which review, discuss, and make changes to it. The committee may also hold hearings and request input from government agencies. After the committee review process, the bill is voted on by the committee members.

3. The bill is voted on by Congress and signed by the President: If the bill passes the committee stage, it is then voted on by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. If it passes both chambers, it is sent to the President for review. The President can choose to sign the bill into law or veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers, and the bill becomes a law.

How 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. Once an idea for a bill has been formulated, it must be drafted. Any member of Congress can draft a bill, and these ideas can come from the members themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The primary Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor", and other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors". Once the bill is drafted, it must 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 House of Representatives. When a bill is introduced, 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, a Senator usually introduces a bill or resolution by presenting it to one of the clerks at the Presiding Officer's desk, without commenting on it from the floor of the Senate. However, a Senator may use a more formal procedure by rising and introducing the bill or resolution from the floor, usually accompanied by a statement about the measure.

Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation. The bill is then assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may even choose to hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill.

Committee action

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

The committee stage involves several steps. First, the bill is referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate. The referral decision is usually made by the House or Senate parliamentarian. The committee to which the bill is assigned will depend on the subject matter of the bill. For example, a bill related to agriculture will likely be referred to the Committee on Agriculture.

Next, the committee may hold hearings on the bill. Hearings allow the committee to better understand the implications of the bill by hearing from experts, public officials, supporters, and opponents of the bill. Hearings are not always necessary, and the committee may choose to proceed without them.

After the hearing stage, the committee will review, research, and revise the bill. This process involves discussing the bill, making changes, and voting on whether to send the bill back to the House or Senate floor. If the committee decides to send the bill back to the floor, it is said to be "ordered to be reported."

If substantial amendments are made to the bill during the committee stage, the committee may order the introduction of a "clean bill." This means that a new bill will be introduced, which includes all the proposed amendments. The new bill will have a new number, and the old bill will be discarded.

Finally, once the committee has finished making changes to the bill, the committee staff will prepare a written report explaining why they favor the bill and why they wish to see their amendments adopted. This report is then sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar for a final vote.

Committee mark-up

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. The committee will then hold a "mark-up" session, during which it will make revisions and additions. If substantial amendments are made, 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 floor while the old bill is discarded. The chamber must approve, change or reject all committee amendments before conducting a final passage vote.

The committee mark-up session is a crucial stage in the legislative process, as it allows for detailed scrutiny and debate of the bill. Committee members can propose amendments, strike out or add new provisions, and generally work to improve the bill. This collaborative process is essential to ensure that the final bill is well-drafted and reflects the input of various stakeholders.

During the committee mark-up, members can propose and debate amendments to the bill. These amendments can be substantial or minor changes, and they are often based on the expertise and input of committee members. The committee chair typically guides the discussion and facilitates a thorough examination of the bill. The mark-up session provides an opportunity for members to ask questions, raise concerns, and suggest improvements. It is a dynamic and interactive process that allows for a deep dive into the bill's provisions.

In some cases, if the amendments are extensive, the committee may introduce a "clean bill". This means that instead of amending the existing bill, they start from scratch and draft a new bill that incorporates all the proposed changes. This approach ensures that the final bill is clear and coherent, without the clutter of strikeouts and additions that can make it difficult to understand. The clean bill is given a new number and proceeds through the legislative process, while the original bill is set aside.

Before a final passage vote is taken, the chamber must approve, change, or reject all committee amendments. This step ensures that the full chamber has the opportunity to review and provide input on the work of the committee. It is a crucial check-and-balance mechanism that allows for further refinement and ensures that the bill has broad support.

The committee mark-up is an important step in the journey of a bill towards becoming a law. It provides a forum for detailed analysis, discussion, and revision. Through this process, the bill is refined, and its provisions are strengthened. The mark-up session is a collaborative and deliberative process that helps to shape the final legislation and ensure that it is well-crafted and reflective of the committee's expertise.

Voting by the full chamber

Once a bill has been drafted, introduced, and assigned to a committee, it is then put to a vote by the full chamber. This is the sixth step in the process of a bill becoming a law.

The bill is first debated, and members of the full chamber vote to approve any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members' votes. If the bill passes in one body of Congress, it will then go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting in the other body. Once both bodies have voted 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.

In the U.S. House of Representatives, there are three methods for voting on a bill: viva voce, division, and recorded. In a viva voce vote, the Speaker of the House asks Representatives to say "aye" if they support the bill and "no" if they oppose it. In a division vote, the Speaker asks those who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then asks those who oppose it to do the same. In a recorded vote, Representatives record their vote using an electronic voting system, and can vote "yes", "no", or "present" if they don't want to vote on the bill. If a majority of Representatives vote "yes", the bill passes in the House and is then sent to the Senate.

In the Senate, Senators vote by voice, saying "yea" if they support the bill and "nay" if they oppose it. If a majority of Senators say "yea", the bill passes in the Senate and is sent to the President.

The bill goes to the president

Once a bill has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is sent to the President. The President has three options:

• Sign and pass the bill, which becomes a law.
• Refuse to sign or veto the bill, sending it back to Congress with their reasons for the veto. If Congress still believes the bill should become law, they can hold another vote. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law.
• Do nothing, which is known as a pocket veto. If Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law after 10 days. If Congress is not in session, the bill does not become law.

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