Keith Mack
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. It can be introduced by any member of Congress, either from the Senate or the House of Representatives. For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by both the House and the Senate and signed by the President. However, there are certain scenarios in which a bill can become a law without the President's signature. If the President does not sign off on a bill within ten days while Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become a law. Additionally, if the President vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate, and if successful, the bill will become a law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| President approves the bill | The bill becomes a law |
| President takes no action for 10 days while Congress is in session | The bill automatically becomes law |
| President opposes the bill | Veto the bill |
| Congress is adjourned and the bill is not signed by the President | The bill is vetoed by default (pocket veto) |
| Congress passes the bill by a two-thirds majority | The President's veto is overruled, and the bill becomes a law |
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What You'll Learn
If the President does not act for 10 days while Congress is in session
In the United States, a bill can become a law without the President's signature if, once it has been passed by both the House and the Senate in identical form, the President does not act on it for 10 days while Congress is in session. This is distinct from a "pocket veto", which occurs when the President does not sign off on a bill when Congress is no longer in session, in which case the bill does not become law.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members 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 of research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the President.
The President can approve the bill and sign it into law. Or the President can refuse to approve a bill. This is called a veto. If the President chooses to veto a bill, in most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto, and the bill becomes a law. Overriding a veto requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.
Therefore, if the President does not act on a bill for 10 days while Congress is in session, the bill becomes law without the President's signature. This is one of the ways a bill can become law without the President's explicit approval.
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If Congress is no longer in session and the bill is unsigned
A bill can become a law without the president's signature if it is not signed within 10 days and Congress is in session. However, if Congress is no longer in session and the bill is unsigned by the president, it will be vetoed by default. This is called a "pocket veto" and cannot be overridden by Congress.
The process of a bill becoming a law starts with its introduction in Congress. It is then referred to a committee, which examines and researches it. The committee may make changes and amendments before recommending the bill to the floor. Once the bill reaches the floor, there is additional debate, and members of the chamber vote to approve any amendments. If the bill is passed by one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body.
After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the President for approval. The President can choose to approve the bill and sign it into law or veto it. If the President takes no action for ten days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law. However, if Congress adjourns before the ten days are up and the President has not signed the bill, it does not become law and is considered a "pocket veto."
A "pocket veto" occurs when a bill is not signed by the President and Congress is no longer in session. In this case, the bill is vetoed by default, and there is no opportunity for Congress to override the veto. This means that even if there is strong support for the bill in Congress, it will not become law without the President's signature if Congress is not in session.
In conclusion, while a bill can become a law without the President's signature if Congress is in session, it cannot do so if Congress is no longer in session. In the latter case, the bill is subject to a "pocket veto," and Congress cannot override it. This highlights the importance of the President's role in the legislative process and the potential impact of their inaction on the passage of bills into laws.
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If the President vetoes and Congress overrides the veto
If the President vetoes a bill, Congress can still turn it into law by overriding the veto. Both the House and the Senate must pass the bill with a two-thirds majority vote. If they do, the President's veto is overridden, and the bill becomes a law. This process is the same even if Congress is no longer in session when the President vetoes the bill. However, if Congress is not in session when the President vetoes the bill, it is called a "pocket veto," and Congress cannot override it.
The process of a bill becoming a law starts with its introduction in either the House or the Senate. It must then be approved by both chambers before being sent to the President for review. If the President approves, they sign the bill, and it becomes a law. If the President does not approve, they can veto it. If the President takes no action for ten days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law.
If the President vetoes a bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto. This requires a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate. If both chambers pass the bill with a two-thirds majority, the President's veto is overridden, and the bill becomes a law without the President's signature. This process is known as "overriding a veto" or "overruling a veto."
The ability of Congress to override a presidential veto is an important check and balance in the legislative process. It allows Congress to enact legislation even if the President does not approve. This ensures that the legislative branch can still function and represent the people's interests, even if the President disagrees.
The process of overriding a veto is not common, but it is an important tool for Congress to have in certain situations. For example, if there is strong bipartisan support for a bill in Congress, but the President vetoes it due to their own political agenda, Congress may choose to override the veto to ensure the bill becomes law. This maintains a balance of power between the legislative and executive branches of the government.
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If the bill passes both the House and Senate
If the bill passes both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for review. The President can then choose to approve the bill, in which case it becomes law, or veto it. If the President chooses to veto the bill, Congress can attempt to override the veto, requiring a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate. If this occurs, the bill becomes law without the President's signature. This process demonstrates the checks and balances in place within the US legislative system, allowing Congress to pass legislation even without the President's approval.
Once a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee in either the House or the Senate. These committees are composed of groups of Congress members with specific interests, such as health or international affairs. The committee carefully examines the bill, determining its chances of passage. The committee may hold hearings to gather input from various stakeholders, including the executive branch, experts, public officials, supporters, and opponents of the legislation. If the committee takes no action on the bill, it is considered "dead".
Subcommittees, which operate under committees, may also be involved in reviewing and proposing changes to the bill. After hearings and subcommittee review, the committee will make amendments and recommend the bill to the "floor". If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it proceeds to the floor for additional debate and voting on any amendments. This process occurs in both the House and the Senate, with the Senate placing a greater emphasis on deliberation and debate prior to voting.
When a bill passes one chamber, it moves to the other chamber, where it typically follows a similar route through committees and, ultimately, to the floor. The second chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or make changes. If the chambers pass different versions of the bill, it goes to a Conference Committee, which works to reach a compromise. This committee is usually composed of senior members from each house. If a compromise is reached, a written report is submitted to each chamber.
The process by which a bill becomes a law involves multiple steps and the collaboration of various stakeholders. It is important to note that the specific procedures may vary between the House and the Senate, reflecting the complexities of the US legislative system.
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If it's a joint resolution
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. There are nine steps a bill can go through before becoming a law. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members 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 of research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.
The president can approve the bill and sign it into law. Or the president can refuse to approve a bill. This is called a veto. If the president chooses to veto a bill, in most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto and the bill becomes a law. But if the president does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a "pocket veto" and it cannot be overridden by Congress.
However, a joint resolution is one of the ways a bill can become law without the president's signature. A joint resolution is a proposal that originates in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, not in both, contrary to a common misconception. There is little difference between a bill and a joint resolution, and the two are sometimes used interchangeably. Joint resolutions are generally used for short-term, ad hoc changes to American law. For example, joint resolutions are the normal vehicle for creating temporary commissions, temporary exceptions to existing law, or terminating national emergency declarations. They are also used for declarations of war and authorizations of the use of force.
Joint resolutions, except for proposed amendments to the Constitution, become law in the same manner as bills. They are considered to have the same effect as a bill, and while a resolution does not become a statute or an act, it does have the force of law. A joint resolution originating in the Senate is designated by the letters "S.J.Res." followed by a number, and joint resolutions introduced in the House of Representatives are designated "H.J.Res." followed by a number.
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Frequently asked questions
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 the bill. The bill is then put before the 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 of research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.
If the president does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress.
If the president chooses to veto a bill, Congress can vote to override that veto and the bill becomes a law.
Both the House and the Senate have various committees composed of groups of Congress members who are particularly interested in different topics such as health or international affairs. Once a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee in either the House or the Senate. The bill is then carefully examined and its chances of passage by the entire Congress are determined.
Any member of Congress – either from the Senate or the House of Representatives – who has an idea for a law can draft a bill. These ideas come from the Congress members themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The primary Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor". The bill is then introduced in either the House or the Senate, depending on the sponsor.
