Gavin Howe
A bill's journey from an idea to a law involves many steps and people. 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 people or citizen groups. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, 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. After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President. If the President approves of the legislation, it is signed and becomes law. If the President opposes the bill, they may veto it, sending it back to Congress, which 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.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of ways a bill can become a law | 2 |
| Who can introduce a bill? | Any member of Congress from the Senate or the House of Representatives |
| Who can propose a bill? | Sitting members of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, citizens, citizen groups or advocacy groups |
| What is the first step after a bill is introduced? | It is assigned to a committee |
| What does the committee do? | Research, discuss, and make changes to the bill |
| What happens after the committee stage? | The bill is put 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 once both bodies vote to accept a bill? | They must work out any differences between the two versions |
| What happens after both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form? | The bill is sent to the President |
| What happens if the President approves the bill? | It is signed and becomes law |
| What happens if the President does not approve the bill? | The President may veto the bill |
| What happens if the President vetoes the bill? | Congress may attempt to override the veto |
| What happens if Congress overrides the veto? | The bill becomes a law |
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What You'll Learn
- A bill is proposed by a member of the House or Senate, or by citizen petition
- The bill is assigned to a committee, which researches and amends it
- The bill is voted on by the chamber
- The bill is sent to the other chamber to go through a similar process
- The bill is sent to the President for approval, veto, or automatic passage into law
A bill is proposed by a member of the House or Senate, or by citizen petition
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 member of the House or Senate, or it can be proposed by citizen petition. If a member of the House has an idea for a bill, they can draft it and then introduce it. The bill is then handed to the clerk of the House or placed in the hopper. It is assigned a number and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) for copying. The bill is then assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it.
If a member of the Senate has an idea for a bill, they must gain recognition from the presiding officer to announce the introduction of the bill during the morning hour. If a senator objects, the introduction is postponed until the following day. After that, the process is similar to that of a bill introduced by a member of the House. The bill is assigned a number, sent to the GPO, and assigned to a committee.
Citizen groups can also propose bills by recommending a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it. Bills may be referred to multiple committees and can be split so that parts are sent to different committees. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees, and failure to act on a bill is equivalent to killing it.
Once a committee has finished making changes to a bill, they will meet to mark up the bill, making any final revisions and amendments before recommending it to the "floor". If a committee votes not to report legislation to the full chamber of Congress, the bill dies. If they vote in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor, which is called "ordering a bill reported". 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' voting.
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The bill is assigned to a committee, which researches and amends it
Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. The Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate usually makes the referral decision, although this is often delegated to the House or Senate parliamentarian. Bills may be referred to multiple committees, and parts of a bill may be sent to different committees. Committees are often further divided into subcommittees, which are more specialised on a certain topic.
The committee will research the bill, discussing and making changes to it. Subcommittees may also make changes, and must vote to refer the bill back to the full committee. Once the subcommittee review is completed, the full committee will meet to "mark up" the bill, making revisions and amendments.
The committee will then vote on whether to report the bill to the full chamber of Congress. If the committee votes against this, the bill dies. If the committee votes in favour, the bill is reported to the floor, in a procedure called "ordering a bill reported". The bill is then subject to further debate, and members of the full chamber vote to approve any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members' vote.
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The bill is voted on by the chamber
The process of a bill becoming a law involves several steps and the participation of multiple stakeholders. One critical step is when the bill is voted on by the chamber, which occurs after the bill has been introduced and undergone initial discussions.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee or committees, which may include subcommittees with specific expertise. These committees are responsible for researching, discussing, and making changes to the bill. They may hold hearings, request input from government agencies, and propose amendments. After completing their review, the committees will vote on whether to approve the bill and send it back to the full chamber.
The bill is then put before the chamber, where members will engage in additional debates and discussions. This stage allows for further amendments to be proposed and voted on. The chamber's vote on the bill is a crucial juncture, as it determines whether the bill will proceed further or be defeated.
The specific procedures and rules governing the chamber's vote can vary. In some cases, strict time limits may be imposed on debates, and the introduction of amendments may be restricted. The bill's fate lies in the hands of the chamber's members, who cast their votes based on their assessment of the bill's merits and their constituents' interests.
If the bill receives the required majority or supermajority vote in the chamber, it will move on to the next stage of the legislative process. However, if it fails to garner sufficient support, it may be defeated or require further modifications before being reintroduced. The chamber's vote is a significant hurdle for any bill to clear on its path to becoming a law.
Overall, the chamber's vote serves as a critical checkpoint, ensuring that proposed legislation receives thorough scrutiny and debate before advancing further in the legislative process. It reflects the democratic principle of representation, allowing elected officials to voice the interests and concerns of their constituents.
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The bill is sent to the other chamber to go through a similar process
Once a bill has successfully passed through one body of Congress, it is sent to the other body to undergo a similar process. This process involves research, discussion, changes, and voting. The bill is first introduced, after which it is assigned to a committee. The committee members will then research the bill, discuss it, and make any necessary changes. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. This process can vary depending on the specific chamber's procedures. For example, in the House, bills are placed on one of four House calendars, whereas in the Senate, legislation is placed on the Legislative Calendar.
The bill's sponsor plays a crucial role in this process. The sponsor is the primary Congress member supporting the bill, and they can be a Representative or a Senator. If a Representative is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the House, and if a Senator is the sponsor, the bill is introduced in the Senate. The sponsor's name is attached to the bill, and they guide it through the legislative process.
During the committee stage, the bill may be referred to subcommittees for further study and hearings. These subcommittees operate under the committees and have specialized knowledge in specific areas. The subcommittees can make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee. Once the hearings and subcommittee review are completed, the committee will meet to make any final changes and amendments before recommending the bill to the "floor."
After the bill has been through the committee process and reached 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' voting. If the bill passes this stage in one body of Congress, it moves on to the other body to go through a similar process. Only once both bodies have voted to accept the bill can they work out any differences between the two versions.
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The bill is sent to the President for approval, veto, or automatic passage into law
Once a bill has been approved by both the House and the Senate in identical form, it is sent to the President for approval, veto, or automatic passage into law. This is the penultimate step in the legislative process, which begins with the introduction of the bill. Any member of Congress can introduce a bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. The bill is then assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. It is then put before the chamber to be voted on. Once the bill has passed one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting.
Once both the House and the Senate have approved the bill, it is sent to the President. If the President approves of the bill, they will sign it, and it will become law. If the President opposes the bill, they may veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, it is sent back to Congress with a note listing their reasons. Congress can then attempt to override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers. If the veto is overridden, the bill becomes law.
If the President does not take any action on the bill for ten days while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law. However, if Congress adjourns before the ten days are up and the President has not signed the bill, it will not become law. This is called a "pocket veto."
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