The Final Step: Law Or Legislation?

The final step in legislation becoming law is when it is approved by the President. The President has 10 days to veto or approve the bill. If the President does not take any action for 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto. If the bill is passed by two-thirds of the Senate and House, it becomes a law.

The bill is sent to the President for approval

Once a bill has been approved by both chambers of Congress, it is sent to the President for approval. This is the final step in the legislative process.

The President has 10 days to decide whether to approve the bill. If the President approves the bill, it becomes a Public Law. If the President does not approve the bill, it is known as a veto. The President may choose to veto the bill by taking no action for 10 days while Congress is in session. This is known as a "pocket veto". If the President vetoes the bill, it may still become a law if two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House then vote in favour of the bill. However, it is rare for Congress to have the votes to override a Presidential veto.

If the President approves the bill, the original enrolled bill is sent from the White House to the Archivist of the United States for publication. The bill is then assigned a Public Law number and printed by the Government Printing Office. The first official publication of the statute is in the form of a slip law. The United States Statutes at Large provides a permanent collection of the laws of each session of Congress in bound volumes. The United States Code contains a consolidation and codification of the general and permanent laws of the United States, arranged according to subject matter.

The President approves the bill

Once a bill has been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is sent to the President for approval. If the President approves the bill, they will sign it and it becomes law. This is known as a Public Law.

The President has 10 days to veto the bill, which means they can refuse to sign it. If the President does nothing for 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law. However, if the President vetoes the bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto. If two-thirds of both the Senate and the House pass the bill, it will become a law, regardless of the President's veto.

If Congress adjourns during the 10 days after the bill is sent to the President and the President does not sign it, the bill is automatically vetoed. This is known as a "pocket veto".

The bill becomes a law

The Legislative Process

The legislative process is the method by which a bill becomes a law. It involves several steps and functions as a safeguard of the American democratic way of life. The process is designed to ensure that there is an open and full discussion of the bill, allowing ample opportunity for all sides to be heard and make their views known.

The Bill's Journey

The bill's journey begins with its creation, where it is drafted by a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate. It is then introduced and assigned a legislative number, e.g. "H.R." for the House of Representatives and "S." for the Senate.

The bill is then sent to a committee, which studies and reviews it. The committee can choose to send the bill to a subcommittee for further examination. During this stage, the committee may request reports, hold hearings, and make revisions to the bill.

Once the committee is satisfied, the bill is returned to the full House or Senate for further debate and approval. At this point, members can propose amendments and make changes to the bill.

Voting and Approval

After the bill has been debated and amended, it is ready for a vote. The bill must be approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. If the bill is passed by one branch, it moves to the other branch, where it goes through a similar process.

During this journey, the bill may undergo several revisions and amendments, and its appearance may differ from the original sponsored bill.

Presidential Action

Once the bill has been passed by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for approval. The President has the power to sign the bill into law or veto it. If the President does not act within 10 days, the bill automatically becomes law. However, if Congress adjourns during those 10 days, the bill is automatically vetoed, known as a "pocket veto".

If the President vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of both the Senate and the House vote in favour of the bill, overruling the President's veto.

Creation of a Law

Finally, when the bill has been approved, it is assigned a Public Law number by the Office of Federal Register, and a copy is printed by the Government Printing Office. The law is first issued in slip form, containing a single publication, and later organised in the order it was passed. Eventually, it is codified into subject order, grouping laws on the same topic together.

The President does not approve the bill

If the President does not approve of a bill, this is known as a veto. A vetoed bill may still become law if Congress votes to override the veto. For this to happen, two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House must vote in favour of the bill. However, it is rare for Congress to have enough votes to override a presidential veto.

If the President vetoes a bill, it is returned to Congress, where it can be reconsidered. Congress can then choose to pass the bill, in which case it is sent back to the President. Alternatively, Congress can make changes to the bill, in which case it must go through the legislative process again.

If the President does not sign a bill within 10 days, it will automatically become law. However, if Congress adjourns during these 10 days, the bill will be pocket vetoed and will not become law.

Congress overrides the President's veto

The final step in legislation becoming law is the President's approval. However, if the President does not approve of the bill, they may veto it. 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.

The process of Congress overriding a presidential veto is a significant moment in the legislative process. It demonstrates the system of checks and balances in the US government, where Congress has the power to overrule the President's decision. This process ensures that the President cannot block a bill with significant support in Congress. However, it is important to note that Congress does not often override vetoes.

The ability of Congress to override a presidential veto is an essential aspect of the US legislative process. It allows for a bill to become law even if the President disagrees with it. This process highlights the separation of powers and the checks and balances within the US government.

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