How Bills Become Laws: A 3-Step Guide

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one, but it can be simplified into three steps: drafting and introduction, committee review, and voting. Firstly, a bill must be drafted by a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, who then introduces it to the relevant chamber. Secondly, the bill is sent to a committee, which researches, discusses, and makes changes to the bill. Finally, the bill is put before the chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes, it is sent to the other chamber, where it goes through a similar process. Once both chambers have approved the bill, it is sent to the President, who can approve it, veto it, or take no action. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

A bill is drafted by a member of Congress

The first step in the process of a bill becoming a law is its drafting. Any member of Congress can draft a bill, and ideas for bills can come from sitting members of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or be proposed during their election campaigns. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. This right to petition is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution.

Once a member of Congress has an idea for a bill, they can begin the process of drafting it. This involves writing out the details of the proposed law, including its purpose, scope, and intended effects. The drafting of a bill requires a great deal of skill, knowledge, and experience. In some cases, a draft may be the result of a study covering a period of a year or more by a commission or committee designated by the President or a member of the Cabinet. Congressional committees may also draft bills after studies and hearings covering periods of a year or more.

During the drafting process, members of Congress may consult with various experts and stakeholders to ensure that the bill is well-informed and has the best chance of success. This may include meeting with other members of Congress, citizens, advocacy groups, and experts in the relevant field. The drafting member of Congress may also work with the Legislative Counsel of the House or the Senate to frame the ideas in suitable legislative language and form.

Once a bill is drafted, it must be introduced. If the bill is introduced by a Representative, it is assigned a number that begins with "H.R." and is placed in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. If the bill is introduced by a Senator, it is assigned a number that begins with "S." and is presented to one of the clerks at the Presiding Officer's desk.

After a bill is introduced, it is ready to move on to the next steps in the process of becoming a law, including being assigned to a committee, undergoing debate and amendment, and eventually being voted on.

The bill is introduced in the House or Senate

The process of a bill becoming a law begins with the bill being introduced. This can be done by any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate. The bill is then placed in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. Once the bill is introduced, it is given a legislative number by the House clerk (e.g., H.R. 1001) or the Senate clerk (e.g., S. 1002). The bill is then read to all the Representatives by a reading clerk, after which the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

The process of introducing a bill is the same in both the House and the Senate. However, it is worth noting that there are some differences in the types of bills that can be introduced in each chamber. For example, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation, while only the Senate can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties.

Once a bill is introduced, it is then assigned to a committee for further review and discussion. This committee will often refer the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee may make changes to the bill before sending it back to the full committee. The full committee will then decide whether to pass the bill on to the next stage, make further changes, or reject it.

The process of a bill becoming a law is a complex and detailed one, with many steps and procedures to be followed. It is important to note that the information provided here is a simplified version of the process, and there may be variations depending on the specific bill and the chamber in which it is introduced.

The bill is assigned to a committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. The committee is chosen based on the bill's subject matter. The committee is made up of groups of members of the House of Representatives or the Senate who are experts on the topic. For example, a bill about agriculture will be assigned to a committee of members who are knowledgeable about agriculture.

Committees have several functions. They can choose to hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather expert opinions. They can also refer the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee may make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee.

Once the hearings and subcommittee review are complete, the committee will meet to make changes and amendments to the bill. They will then vote on whether to pass the bill. If the committee votes against the bill, it dies. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor, which is known as "ordering a bill reported".

The bill is voted on by the full chamber

Once a bill has been drafted, introduced, and reviewed by a committee, it is then put before the full chamber to be voted on. This is known as the "floor action" stage. At this point, members of the chamber may propose amendments to the bill, add additional text, or otherwise alter it.

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 those who support the bill to say "aye" and those who oppose it to say "no." In a division vote, supporters of the bill are asked to stand up and be counted, and then those who oppose it are counted. In a recorded vote, representatives use an electronic voting system to record their vote.

If a majority of the chamber votes in favor of the bill, it is then passed on to the next stage of the legislative process. If the bill is rejected, it may be sent back to committee for further review or it may be discarded.

The voting process in the U.S. Senate is similar. Senators vote by voice, with supporters saying "yea" and opponents saying "nay." If a majority of Senators vote in favor, the bill passes. If not, it may be sent back to committee or discarded.

The bill is sent to the President

Once a bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for their consideration. At this stage, the President has three options: they can sign the bill into law, refuse to sign it, or do nothing.

If the President approves of the bill, they will sign it, and it will become law. However, if the President does not agree with the bill, they can veto it. A veto means that the President refuses to approve the bill, and it is sent back to Congress, along with the President's reasons for the veto. Congress can then attempt to override the veto by holding another vote on the bill. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill during this vote, the President's veto is overridden, and the bill becomes a law.

If Congress is in session, and the President does not take any action on the bill for ten days after receiving it, the bill will automatically become law. On the other hand, if Congress has adjourned during the ten days after the bill is sent to the President and remains unsigned, the bill will be vetoed by default. This is known as a "pocket veto" and cannot be overridden by Congress.

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