The Long Road: Bill To Law

The process of turning a bill into a law is a complex one, and in the US, it involves multiple stages of approval and revision. A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one, and it can be drafted by any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate. Once a bill is drafted, it must be introduced, and this can be done by a Representative or a Senator, depending on who the sponsor is. The bill is then sent to a committee, which will research and discuss it, making changes if necessary. After this, the bill goes through a process of voting and referral between the House and the Senate, with both bodies working to agree on a final version. Once this is achieved, the bill is sent to the President for approval, who can choose to approve and sign it into law or veto it. However, even if the President vetoes a bill, it can still become a law if Congress votes to override that veto.

A bill is drafted

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 an idea for a bill has been established, it must be drafted.

The drafting process involves writing the bill. This is done by a member of Congress, who becomes the "sponsor" of the bill. Other members of Congress can also support the bill and become "co-sponsors". The bill is then introduced. If the sponsor is a Representative, the bill is introduced in the House. If the sponsor is a Senator, the bill is introduced in the Senate.

Once a bill is introduced, it is given a number (e.g. H.R. 1 or S. 1) and assigned to a committee. The committee will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather expert opinions. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead".

The drafting process is a crucial step in the legislative process, as it sets the foundation for the rest of the bill's journey to becoming a law. It involves careful consideration and collaboration between members of Congress to ensure that the bill is well-written and reflects the intended purpose.

It's introduced to the House or Senate

Once a bill has been drafted, it must be introduced to the House or Senate. This is done by a member of Congress, who is then known as the "sponsor". Other members of Congress can also support the bill, and they are known as "co-sponsors". If the sponsor is a Representative, the bill is introduced in the House. If the sponsor is a Senator, the bill is introduced in the Senate.

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. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned a number that begins with "H.R." A reading clerk then reads the bill to all the Representatives, and the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

In the Senate, a Senator usually introduces a bill or resolution by presenting it to one of the clerks at the Presiding Officer's desk, without commenting on it from the floor of the Senate. However, a Senator may use a more formal procedure by rising and introducing the bill from the floor, usually accompanied by a statement about the measure.

Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, which is the official government website that tracks federal legislation.

The bill goes to committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Committees are groups of members of Congress who are particularly interested in and knowledgeable about a specific topic, such as health or international affairs. The committee will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. They will also determine the bill's chances of passage by Congress.

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 bill. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead".

If the committee decides to act on a bill, they may refer it to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee can make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee.

Once hearings and subcommittee review are complete, the committee will meet to "mark up" the bill, making changes and amendments before recommending it to the "floor". If the committee votes against the bill, it dies. If they vote in favour, it is reported to the floor.

The committee staff will then prepare a written report explaining why they support the bill and why they wish to see their amendments adopted. Committee members who oppose the bill may write a dissenting opinion to be included in the report.

It's voted on by the full chamber

Once a bill has been introduced, assigned a number, and sent to the Government Printing Office, it is then sent to a committee. The committee will then research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead". If the committee approves the bill, it is then sent to the full chamber to be voted on.

The full chamber will then debate the bill and members will vote to approve any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members' votes. If the bill is passed by the full chamber, it is then referred to the other chamber, where it will go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. If the bill is defeated, it is dead and will not become a law.

The full chamber vote is a critical step in the process of a bill becoming a law. It is during this stage that the bill is either passed or defeated, determining whether it will continue on the path to becoming a law. This stage also allows for further amendments to be made to the bill, ensuring that it reflects the input and approval of the full chamber.

The full chamber vote plays a crucial role in shaping the legislation that will impact the lives of citizens. It is the responsibility of the members of the full chamber to carefully consider the bill, debate its merits, and make informed decisions through their votes. This process helps ensure that the laws that are enacted are reflective of the interests and needs of the people they represent.

The bill is sent to the President

Once a bill has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it is sent to the President for review. The President has three options:

• Sign and pass the bill, at which point it becomes a law.
• Refuse to sign, or veto, the bill. The bill is then sent back to the House of Representatives, along with the President's reasons for the veto. If the House of Representatives and the 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 law.

Frequently asked questions