The Need For Change: New Laws For A Better Future

The process of turning a bill into a law is a long and complex one. In the United States, laws are made by Congress, which consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The journey of a bill to becoming a law begins with an idea, which can come from a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, or even a citizen. The member of Congress supporting the bill is called the sponsor, and other members who support it are called co-sponsors. Once the bill is drafted, it is introduced in the House of Representatives or the Senate, depending on who the sponsor is. A bill is then assigned to a committee, whose members research, discuss, and make changes to it. The bill is then put before that chamber for a vote, and if it passes, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process. Once 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. If it passes, it is presented to the President, who can choose to approve it and sign it into law, or veto it. If the President chooses to veto it, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill becomes a law.

How a bill becomes a law

Step 1: The Bill is Drafted

Any member of Congress – from the Senate or the House of Representatives – can draft a bill. The idea for a bill can come from the members themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The primary Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor", and other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors".

Step 2: The Bill is Introduced

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

Step 3: The Bill Goes to Committee

Once introduced, the bill is referred to a committee. Both the House and the Senate have various committees composed of groups of Congress members with specific interests and expertise, such as health or international affairs. The committee carefully examines the bill and determines its chances of passage by Congress. The committee may hold hearings to better understand the bill's implications and gather the views of experts, supporters, and opponents. If the committee takes no action on a bill, it is considered "dead".

Step 4: Subcommittee Review

Committees often refer bills to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee may make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee.

Step 5: Committee Markup

After hearings and subcommittee review, the committee meets to "mark up" the bill, making changes and amendments before recommending it to the "floor". If the committee votes against reporting the legislation to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. If they vote in favour, it is reported to the floor.

Step 6: Voting by the Full Chamber

Once the 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.

Step 7: Referral to the Other Chamber

When the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it typically follows a similar route through committees and, finally, to the floor. This chamber may approve, reject, ignore, or change the bill. If there are differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill, Congress may form a conference committee to resolve them. If the conference committee cannot reach an agreement, the bill dies.

Step 8: The Bill Goes to the President

After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the President. The President may sign the bill into law or take no action for ten days while Congress is in session, in which case the bill automatically becomes law. The President may also oppose the bill and veto it.

Step 9: Overriding a Veto

If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto. If two-thirds of both the Senate and the House pass the bill, the President's veto is overruled, and the bill becomes a law.

The role of the House of Representatives

Idea Generation:

The process begins with an idea for a new law or a change to an existing one. This idea can come from a Representative or a citizen. Citizens can reach out to their Representatives to discuss their ideas, and if the Representatives agree, they will proceed to the next step.

Bill Drafting:

The Representative who champions the idea will work on drafting the bill. This involves writing down the proposed law or amendment in a specific format. The bill's sponsor will also seek support from other Representatives to increase its chances of success.

Bill Introduction:

Once the bill is ready, it is introduced in the House of Representatives. This is done by placing it in the "hopper," a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. A bill number starting with "H.R." is assigned, and a reading clerk reads the bill to all Representatives.

Committee Assignment:

The Speaker of the House then sends the bill to one of the House's standing committees. These committees are groups of Representatives with expertise in specific areas like agriculture, education, or international relations.

Committee Review and Revision:

The committee members carefully review the bill, conduct research, and make revisions as necessary. If they need more information, the bill may be sent to a subcommittee for further examination and expert opinions.

Committee Approval:

After making any necessary changes, the committee will vote on whether to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee approves, the bill is reported to the House and is ready for the next step.

House Debate and Voting:

Representatives discuss the bill, explaining their support or opposition. A reading clerk reads the bill section by section, and Representatives can propose changes. Once all modifications are incorporated, the bill is ready for a vote. The House uses three methods for voting: viva voce (voice vote), division (standing up and being counted), and recorded (electronic) voting.

Senate Consideration:

If the bill passes the House, it moves on to the Senate, where it goes through similar steps: committee review, revision, and voting. If the Senate approves, the bill moves closer to becoming a law.

Presidential Review:

The bill is then sent to the President for consideration. The President has three options: signing and passing the bill into law, vetoing the bill and sending it back to Congress, or doing nothing (pocket veto).

Veto Override (if applicable):

If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto. If two-thirds of both the House and the Senate support the bill, they can override the President's veto, and the bill becomes a law.

The role of the Senate

The Senate plays a crucial role in the legislative process, working alongside the House of Representatives to create and pass laws. Here is an overview of the Senate's role in lawmaking:

Proposing Bills

The Senate, along with the House of Representatives, has the power to propose new laws or changes to existing ones. Senators can draft and introduce bills, which are like early versions or drafts of proposed laws. These bills can originate from the Senators themselves or from ideas suggested by everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The Senator who introduces the bill is known as the "sponsor," while other Senators who support the bill are called "co-sponsors."

Committee Review

Once a bill is introduced, it is referred to a Senate committee for review. The Senate has various committees that focus on specific topics such as health or international affairs. The committee carefully examines the bill, holds hearings to understand its implications, and determines its chances of passage by the full Senate. The committee may make changes to the bill and must vote on whether to report it to the full Senate, also known as "ordering a bill reported." If the committee does not support the bill, it is considered "dead" and does not advance further.

Subcommittee Review

Bills are often referred to subcommittees, which operate under the committees and have further specialization in specific topics. The subcommittee reviews the bill, may make additional changes, and must vote to refer it back to the full committee.

Senate Debate and Vote

After the committee and subcommittee review process, the bill is sent to the full Senate for debate and vote. Senators discuss the bill, propose amendments, and vote to approve any changes. The bill is then passed or defeated by the Senate.

Conference with the House

If the Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the House of Representatives, where it goes through a similar process of committee review, debate, and vote. If the House approves the bill, it is sent to the President. However, if there are differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill, a conference committee may be formed to resolve these discrepancies. The conference committee includes members from both the Senate and the House, and they work together to create a final version of the bill that is acceptable to both chambers.

Presidential Approval

Once a bill is approved by both the Senate and the House, it is sent to the President for final approval. The President has the power to sign the bill into law or veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto by passing the bill with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. If Congress successfully overrides the veto, the bill becomes a law.

The role of the President

The President of the United States has a crucial role in the process of making a bill become a law. While the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are responsible for the creation and initial approval of a bill, the President has the power to veto it.

The President's role in the process begins once a bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate. At this stage, the bill is sent to the President, who has three options: they can sign and pass the bill, making it a law; they can refuse to sign and veto it, sending it back to the House and the Senate; or they can choose to do nothing, resulting in a pocket veto.

If the President chooses to veto the bill, they must provide their reasons for doing so. The House and the Senate can then hold another vote on the bill, and if two-thirds of the members of both chambers support it, they can override the President's veto, and the bill will become a law.

On the other hand, if the President does nothing while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become a law after ten days. However, if Congress is not in session, and the President does nothing, the bill will be vetoed by default, and this action cannot be overridden.

Therefore, the President has a significant role in the process of making a law, as they have the power to approve or reject a bill. Their decision can be overridden by Congress, but only if there is a two-thirds majority in favour of the bill in both the House and the Senate.

How to override a veto

The process of how to override a veto is a crucial aspect of lawmaking in the United States. Here is a detailed guide on the steps involved:

• Introduction of a Bill: The process begins with the introduction of a bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. This idea can come from a member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives or even be suggested by citizens or groups through petitions.
• Committee Review: Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a committee, whose members research, discuss, and make changes. The bill is then presented to the respective chamber (House or Senate) for voting.
• Voting in Both Chambers: If the bill passes one chamber, it moves to the other chamber, where it undergoes a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. After both chambers approve the bill, they work together to reconcile any differences between their versions.
• Presidential Consideration: The approved bill is then presented to the President for consideration. The President has three options: sign and pass the bill into law, veto the bill, or do nothing (pocket veto).
• Veto Override: If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto. This requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate. If this threshold is met in both chambers, the bill becomes a law despite the President's objections.
• Presidential Signature: Once a bill is passed by Congress, it needs the President's signature to become a law. If the President approves, they sign the bill, and it becomes a law.
• Bill Becomes Law: After the President's signature or a successful veto override, the bill is enforced by the government and becomes a law that all citizens must follow.

It's important to note that the process of overriding a veto is a significant step in lawmaking, as it allows Congress to overturn the President's decision and ensure that important legislation becomes law even without the President's approval. This showcases the system of checks and balances in the U.S. government, where no single branch holds absolute power.

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