The Journey Of A Bill To Becoming Law

In the United States, laws are created and modified by Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The process of a bill becoming a law involves multiple steps, including drafting, introduction, committee review, voting, and approval by the President. This journey begins with an idea, which can come from a Representative or citizen, and transforms into a bill through research and writing. Once introduced, the bill undergoes scrutiny by committees and subcommittees, followed by voting in the House and Senate. If the bill passes both chambers, it is sent to the President for approval, who can sign it into law or exercise a veto. However, Congress has the power to override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. Understanding these steps provides insight into the legislative process and the journey of a bill on its way to becoming a law.

A bill is drafted and introduced

The first step in the legislative process is the drafting of a bill. 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 a bill is written, it needs a sponsor. The sponsor is the primary Congress member supporting the bill. The representative then talks with other representatives about the bill to gain their support.

Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of some representatives, it is ready to be introduced. In the 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. In the Senate, members must gain recognition from the presiding officer to announce the introduction of a bill during the morning hour. If any senator objects, the introduction is postponed until the next day.

Once introduced, a bill is assigned a number (e.g. HR 1 or S 1) and labelled with the sponsor's name. It is then sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) for copying. The bill is also assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to it. Both the House and Senate have various committees composed of groups of Representatives or Congress members with expertise in different topics such as health or international affairs.

The committee may hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather the views of experts, public officials, supporters, and opponents of the legislation. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead". The committee may also refer the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings before it is sent back to the full committee.

The bill is assigned to a committee

The committee plays a crucial role in determining the bill's chances of passage by the entire Congress. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead". However, if the committee approves the bill, it is reported to the House floor, where it can be debated and voted on by the full chamber. This process is known as "ordering a bill reported".

Before a bill reaches the floor, it often goes through a subcommittee, which is a specialised group organised under the committee. The subcommittee may make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee. Once the bill is back with the full committee, they will meet to "mark up" the bill, making any necessary amendments before recommending it to the "floor".

The committee staff then prepares a written report explaining their support for the bill and their reasons for making any amendments. Committee members who disagree with the bill may include a dissenting opinion in the report. This report is sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar. The Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate decides what will reach the floor and when.

The bill is reviewed by a subcommittee

Once a bill has been introduced and assigned to a committee, it may be sent to a subcommittee for further review. Subcommittees are specialised groups that operate under committees. They study the bill and may hold hearings to gather expert opinions and better understand the bill's implications. This process allows for a more detailed examination of the bill before it is sent back to the committee.

The subcommittee review stage is crucial as it provides an opportunity for experts and stakeholders to provide input and ensure that the bill is thoroughly vetted. It also allows the committee to benefit from the specialised knowledge and expertise of the subcommittee members. During this process, the subcommittee may propose changes and amendments to the bill.

After the subcommittee has completed its review, it must vote to refer the bill back to the full committee. The subcommittee's findings and any proposed changes are reported to the committee, which then considers the bill further. This process ensures that the bill undergoes a rigorous review and that all relevant information and perspectives are considered before the committee makes its final recommendations.

The subcommittee review process is an important step in the legislative journey of a bill. It helps to ensure that the bill is well-considered and that any potential implications have been thoroughly examined. This stage also allows for greater public participation and input, as hearings and expert opinions are often sought during this process.

The subcommittee review is a critical step in the transformation of a bill into a law. It provides an opportunity for detailed analysis, public engagement, and proposed changes to be considered by the committee before the bill advances further in the legislative process.

The bill is marked up and voted on

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The committee will then meet to "mark up" the bill, making changes and amendments before recommending it to the "floor". This is known as "ordering a bill reported". If the committee votes against reporting the legislation to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. However, if they vote in favour of it, it is reported to the floor.

At this stage, the bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. Representatives discuss the bill, explaining their reasons for supporting or opposing it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section, and representatives can recommend changes. Once all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives: viva voce, division, and recorded. In a viva voce vote, the Speaker of the House asks supporters of the bill to say "aye" and opponents to say "no". In a division, supporters and opponents of the bill are asked to stand up and be counted. In a recorded vote, representatives use an electronic voting system to record their vote as yes, no, or present. If a majority of representatives vote yes, the bill passes in the House and is then delivered to the U.S. Senate.

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 review. 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 a law. If the President does not approve, they can veto the bill, sending it back to Congress with a note explaining their 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 the President does nothing, the outcome depends on whether Congress is still in session. If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days. However, if Congress is not in session, and the President does not sign off on the bill, it will be vetoed by default. This is called a "pocket veto" and cannot be overridden by Congress.

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