Understanding The Legislative Process: Bills Becoming Laws

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. Before a bill can become a law, it must go through a rigorous process involving several stages. 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 groups who recommend a new or amended law to their representative. This is the first step in the legislative process, which culminates in the creation of a law. Understanding this process is crucial for effective advocacy, as it empowers individuals to identify the best opportunities to influence public policy.

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law

Committees are groups of Congress members with a particular interest in a certain topic, such as health or international affairs. They carefully examine the bill, determine its chances of passage, and may hold hearings to better understand its implications. Hearings allow the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, and supporters and opponents of the bill to be put on record.

Committees may refer bills to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. Subcommittees then report their findings back to the full committee. The committee will then meet to make revisions and amendments to the bill. 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.

Once a bill reaches the floor, there is additional debate, and members of the full chamber vote to approve any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members' votes. When the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows the same route through committees and, finally, to the floor.

If the House and Senate pass the same bill, it is sent to the President. A bill becomes law if signed by the President or if not signed within 10 days while Congress is in session. If the President opposes the bill, they may veto it. If Congress is no longer in session and the President does not sign off on a bill, the bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a "pocket veto" and cannot be overridden by Congress. If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto. If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the President's veto is overruled, and the bill becomes a law.

Bills can be proposed by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives

Once a bill has been proposed, it is introduced. If a Representative is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the House. If a Senator is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the Senate. The bill is then assigned a number (e.g. HR 1 or S 1) and given the name of the sponsor.

The bill is then sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) where copies are made. The bill is also placed in the hopper—a special box on the side of the clerk's desk.

The bill is then referred to a committee by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate. Committees are groups of Congress members with a particular interest in a certain topic, such as health or international affairs. The committee will carefully examine the bill and determine its chances of passage by Congress. The committee may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is considered to be dead.

The committee may refer the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee will then report its findings to the full committee. The committee will then meet to make revisions and amendments to the bill. 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.

Once the committee has approved a bill, it is sent, or reported, to the House or Senate floor. A written report is also prepared by the committee staff 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 in the report.

The bill is then ready to be debated by the full chamber. Representatives or Senators discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. A reading clerk then reads the bill section by section and changes are recommended.

Finally, 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 (voice vote), division, and recorded. In the Senate, Senators vote by voice, saying "yea" if they support the bill and "nay" if they oppose it. If a majority of the Representatives or Senators vote in favour of the bill, it passes.

Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups

Bills can be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups. This is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. Citizens can also use online platforms such as NYSenate.gov to get in touch with their lawmakers and participate in the legislative process. This platform allows citizens to share their views on important issues and provide feedback to lawmakers. It also makes it easier for senators and staff to consider and respond to the feedback they receive.

Citizens can also contact their senators via phone, email, or postal mail. They can also meet with their senators in person. Citizens can also create petitions, which are great tools for raising awareness around certain issues. However, there are some drawbacks to using third-party petition sites. For example, it can be difficult for senators to tell whether the signatures are from constituents in their district.

Additionally, citizens can recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. They can also transmit their proposals to the member. If the member is favorably impressed by the idea, they may introduce the proposal in the form in which it has been submitted or may redraft it. Citizens can also consult with the Legislative Counsel of the House or the Senate to frame their ideas in suitable legislative language and form.

A bill must be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives, the U.S. Senate, and the President

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, or be proposed during their election campaign. 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.

Once a bill is introduced, it is 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. Hearings allow the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, and supporters and opponents of the legislation to be put on the record. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is considered to be "dead".

If the committee approves a bill, it is sent—or reported—to the House floor. Once reported, a bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives. Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. Then, a reading clerk reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend changes. When 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 (voice vote): The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those that oppose it say "no."
• Division: The Speaker of the House asks those Representatives who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then asks those who oppose the bill to stand up and be counted.
• Recorded: Representatives record their vote using the electronic voting system. Representatives can vote "yes", "no", or "present" (if they don't want to vote on the bill).

If a majority of the Representatives vote "yes", the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate.

When a bill reaches the U.S. Senate, it goes through many of the same steps it went through in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is discussed in a Senate committee and then reported to the Senate floor to be voted on. Senators vote by voice. Those who support the bill say "yea", and those who oppose it say "nay." If a majority of the Senators say "yea", the bill passes in the U.S. Senate and is ready to go to the President.

When a bill reaches the President, he or she has three choices:

• Sign and pass the bill—the bill becomes a law.
• Refuse to sign, or veto, the bill—the bill is sent back to the U.S. House of Representatives, along with the President’s reasons for the veto. If the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate still believe the bill should become a law, they can hold another vote on the bill. 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 (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 a law.

If a bill has passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and has been approved by the President, or if a presidential veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law and is enforced by the government.

The President can approve, veto, or do nothing (pocket veto)

Once a bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for review. The President can then choose to approve the bill, veto it, or do nothing (pocket veto). If the President approves the bill, they will sign it and it will become law.

If the President chooses to veto the bill, they will send it back to Congress with a note outlining their reasons. Congress can then attempt to override the veto. If two-thirds of both the House and the Senate support the bill, the President's veto will be overridden and the bill will become law.

If the President does nothing and chooses a pocket veto, the outcome depends on whether Congress is in session. If Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill will not become law.

Frequently asked questions