Kara Sears
Before a law can be made, a bill must be 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. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process. If the bill passes both chambers, it is presented to the president.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can propose a bill? | A sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, during their election campaign, or petitioned by citizens or citizen groups |
| What is a bill? | A proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law |
| What happens once a bill is introduced? | It is assigned a number, sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO), and assigned to a committee |
| What does the committee do? | The committee researches, discusses, and makes changes to the bill, before putting it before the chamber to be voted on |
| What happens if the bill passes one body of Congress? | It goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting |
| What happens if both bodies vote to accept a bill? | They must work out any differences between the two versions, and both chambers vote on the same version of the bill |
| What happens if the bill passes both chambers? | It is presented to the president |
| What happens if the president signs the bill? | It becomes law |
| What happens if the president does not sign the bill within 10 days and Congress is in session? | The bill becomes law |
| What happens if the president does not sign the bill within 10 days and Congress adjourns before the 10 days are up? | The bill does not become law ("Pocket Veto") |
| What happens if the president vetoes the bill? | It is sent back to Congress with a note listing the president's reasons |
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What You'll Learn
A bill is proposed
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 groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned a number and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) to be copied. It is then referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate. This committee will hold a "mark-up" session, during which revisions and additions will be made. If substantial amendments are introduced, a "clean bill" will be ordered, including the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number, and the old bill will be discarded.
The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. This is often done by forming a conference committee, composed of senior members from each house. If the committee reaches a compromise, a written report is submitted to each chamber, and both the House and Senate must vote to approve it.
After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the President. If the President approves the bill, it becomes law. If the President does not sign the bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law. If Congress adjourns before the 10 days are up and the President has not signed, the bill does not become law ("Pocket Veto"). If the President vetoes the bill, it is sent back to Congress with a note listing the reasons for the veto.
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The bill is assigned to a committee
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. This committee is composed of groups of Congress members with a particular interest or expertise in the topic of the bill. For example, a bill about health policy would be assigned to a committee of members with an interest in health. The committee will then research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.
The committee will hold a "mark-up" session, where revisions and additions are made. 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 be sent to the floor, while the old bill is discarded. The committee staff will then prepare a written report 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 report is sent back to the whole chamber and is placed on the calendar. In the House, most bills go to the Rules Committee before reaching the floor. The committee will adopt rules that will govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered by the House. The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader decide what will reach the floor and when.
Each committee with oversight responsibility must review and study any conditions or circumstances that may indicate the necessity or desirability of enacting new or additional legislation within its jurisdiction. They must also undertake future research and forecasting on matters within their jurisdiction.
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The committee discusses and amends the bill
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 hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and allow the views of experts, public officials, supporters, and opponents of the legislation to be put on record. The committee will hold a "mark-up" session during which it will make revisions and additions, and if substantial amendments are made, the committee can order the introduction of a "clean bill" that includes the proposed amendments. This new bill will be given a new number and sent to the floor, while the old bill is discarded. The committee staff then prepares a written report 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 committee report that accompanies a bill must contain a statement citing the specific powers granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill. It must also include an estimate of the cost of federal unfunded mandates on state, local, and tribal governments, which is prepared by the Congressional Budget Office. If an estimate is not available when the report is filed, the committee must publish the estimate in the Congressional Record "as soon as it becomes available".
After the bill is reported, it is sent back to the whole chamber and placed on the calendar. The chamber must approve, change, or reject all committee amendments before conducting a final passage vote. In the House, most bills go to the Rules Committee before reaching the floor, where the committee adopts rules that will govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered by the House.
If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Members from each house form a conference committee and meet to work out the differences, usually made up of senior members appointed by the presiding officers of the committee that originally dealt with the bill. The conference committee prepares a written report, which is submitted to each chamber and must be approved by both the House and the Senate.
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The bill is voted on
The legislative process involves several steps from the introduction of a bill to its enactment into law. A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and makes changes to it. The committee may hold hearings to understand the implications of the bill and its impact on different stakeholders. The committee's role is crucial in improving the bill through amendments before it proceeds further.
After the committee stage, the bill is put before the chamber to be voted on. This is a critical step in the legislative process, where the bill's fate is decided. The chamber must consider and vote on any amendments proposed by the committee. The vote typically involves a full and open discussion, allowing for a transparent and democratic process. During this stage, the bill can be approved, changed, rejected, or ignored. The specific voting procedures may vary depending on the chamber's rules and regulations.
The voting process in the chamber involves members debating and expressing their support or opposition to the bill. The number of votes cast for and against the bill is recorded, along with the names of those voting, ensuring transparency and accountability. The vote may also involve considering any amendments or changes made by the committee. This process allows for a thorough examination of the bill and enables members to make an informed decision.
If the bill passes one chamber, it moves to the other chamber, where it undergoes a similar process of research, discussion, amendments, and voting. This step ensures that both chambers have an opportunity to provide input and make changes to the bill. It is important to note that the bill must pass through both chambers, demonstrating the collaborative nature of law-making.
Once both chambers have approved the bill, they work together to reconcile any differences between their versions. This is done through a conference committee, which includes senior members from both chambers. The committee works to reach a compromise and prepare a final version of the bill that both chambers can accept. This step ensures that the final law is a product of consensus and addresses the concerns of all parties involved.
After the conference committee reaches an agreement, both chambers vote on the identical version of the bill. If it passes this final vote, the bill is presented to the President for review and approval. This voting process concludes the legislative journey of the bill, determining whether it will become a law or not.
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The bill is presented to the President
The process of turning a bill into a law involves multiple steps and the participation of many individuals. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee that researches, discusses, and makes changes to it. The committee may hold hearings to better understand the bill's implications and seek input from various stakeholders. Following this, the bill is put before the chamber for a vote. If it passes one body of Congress, it moves to the other body, where it undergoes a similar process of scrutiny and voting.
In the event that the bill is approved by both bodies of Congress, they must reconcile any discrepancies between the two versions. This involves the formation of a conference committee, typically comprising senior members from each house. The committee works to reach a compromise, and if successful, a written conference report is prepared and submitted to each chamber for approval. This report outlines the specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution to enact the proposed law.
After both chambers have approved the identical version of the bill, it is presented to the President for review and signature. At this stage, the bill can become law through the President's signature or inaction for ten days while Congress is in session. However, if Congress adjourns before the ten-day period elapses and the President has not signed the bill, it does not become law, a scenario known as a "Pocket Veto."
If the President vetoes the bill, it is returned to Congress with a note outlining the reasons for the veto. Congress may then attempt to address the President's concerns and resubmit the bill for approval. This back-and-forth highlights the rigorous process and multiple checks in place to ensure that laws are carefully considered and reflect the interests of the people they govern.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
The bill is assigned to a committee, which researches, discusses, and makes changes to the bill.
The bill is put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting.
Both chambers must then vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president for review. The bill becomes law if signed by the president or if not signed within 10 days and Congress is in session.
