Anaya Nolan
In the United States, laws are made in Congress, which is part of the legislative branch and is made up of the House of Representatives and the Senate. All laws in the US start as a Bill, which is proposed legislation usually sponsored (i.e. written) by members of Congress. A bill can be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress. 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 the chamber to be voted on. If the bill passes in one branch of Congress, it moves to the other branch, where the process repeats. If the bill is passed by both the Senate and the House, it is sent to the President. If the President approves, the bill becomes a law. If the President does not approve, they may veto the bill, which Congress can vote to override.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Who can propose a bill? | A sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, citizen groups, or everyday citizens and advocacy groups |
| What happens after a bill is introduced? | It is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill |
| What happens once the committee is done? | 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, and then both chambers vote on the same version of the bill |
| What happens if the bill passes both chambers? | It is sent to the President for approval |
| What happens if the President approves the bill? | The bill becomes a law |
| What happens if the President does not approve the bill? | The President may veto the bill, in which case Congress may attempt to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote |
| What is another role of the committees? | To seek input from relevant departments and agencies about a bill, and frequently submit the bill to the Government Accountability Office for an official report on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law |
| What are joint committees? | Committees composed of members of both the Senate and House, whose duties and responsibilities are set forth in the respective resolutions or laws creating them |
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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 people or citizen groups. 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", and other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors".
Once a 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. The House clerk assigns a legislative number for bills introduced in the House of Representatives (e.g., H.R. 1001), and the Senate clerk assigns a legislative number for bills introduced in the Senate (e.g. S.1002).
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. One of the first actions taken by a committee is to seek input from relevant departments and agencies about a bill. The bill is also often submitted to the Government Accountability Office with a request for an official report on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law. The committee will often refer the bill to one of its subcommittees, which may request reports from government agencies, hold hearings, "mark up" or revise the bill, or report the legislation to the full committee for its consideration.
After the bill has been considered by the committee, it is 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.
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The bill is assigned to a committee
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee. The committee is referred to as the appropriate committee by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate. The referral decision is often made by the House or Senate parliamentarian. The bill is placed on the calendar of the committee to which it has been assigned. The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees. Failure to act on a bill is equivalent to killing it.
Bills may be referred to more than one committee and they may be split so that parts are sent to different committees. The bill can be assigned to a subcommittee by the Committee Chair. Hearings may be held, and subcommittees report their findings to the full committee. The committee will hold a "'mark-up' session" during which it will make revisions and additions. If substantial amendments are made, the committee can order the introduction of a "clean bill" that will include the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number and will be sent to the floor while the old bill is discarded.
The committee members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. They will seek the input of relevant departments and agencies about a bill. The bill is frequently submitted to the Government Accountability Office with a request for an official report on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.
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The committee researches and discusses the bill
The legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. 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 to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.
The committee process is a crucial step in the legislative journey of a bill. Committees are assigned to bills by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate, often with input from the House or Senate parliamentarian. Bills may be referred to multiple committees and split so that different parts are sent to different committees. Committees have access to professional staff, with members voting to appoint staff without regard to race, creed, sex, or age. One of the first actions taken by a committee is to seek input from relevant departments, agencies, and the Government Accountability Office, requesting their views on the necessity and desirability of enacting the bill into law.
Committee discussions and research are subject to certain rules and considerations. For instance, committees can vote to close meetings or series of meetings on the same subject for up to 14 days if discussing certain sensitive matters, such as national defense, foreign relations, or individual privacy. Committees may also hold hearings and receive testimony and evidence, with the ability to vary the quorum, or the number of members necessary for a quorum, for these specific actions.
During the committee stage, the bill is carefully examined, and amendments may be proposed. If substantial amendments are made, the committee can introduce a "clean bill" incorporating these changes, which is then sent to the floor while the old bill is discarded. The committee staff prepares a written report explaining their support for the bill and their reasons for any amendments. This report is sent back to the chamber and placed on the calendar.
The committee process is a collaborative and deliberative step in the legislative process, allowing for careful consideration, input from relevant parties, and revisions to the bill before it moves forward in its journey towards becoming a law.
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The bill is presented to the House and Senate
In the United States, 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 a 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. Bills are prefixed with H.R. when introduced in the House and S. when introduced in the Senate.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee seeks input from relevant departments and agencies about the bill and may submit the bill to the Government Accountability Office with a request for an official report on the necessity or desirability of enacting the bill into law. 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. While both the House and the Senate are equal in how they function, there are some procedural differences. For example, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation, and only the Senate can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties. While the House processes legislation through a majority vote, the Senate does so through deliberation and debate prior to 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.
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The bill is sent to the President
The legislative process in the United States involves several steps and stakeholders. 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 a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The committee may refer the bill to one of its subcommittees, which may request reports from government agencies, hold hearings, and make revisions. The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on.
If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other body, involving research, discussion, changes, and voting. Once both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the President for approval or signature, which, if granted, creates a Public Law. If the President approves of the bill, it is signed and becomes law. If the President takes no action for ten days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law.
However, if the President opposes the bill, they may veto it. If the President vetoes a bill, Congress 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. This process highlights the checks and balances in the legislative process, ensuring that laws are thoroughly considered and reflect the interests of various stakeholders.
The legislative branch of the U.S. government, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives, has the power to initiate and enact legislation. The Senate has additional powers, such as providing advice and consent regarding treaties and nominations. The legislative process involves committees and subcommittees that contribute to the research, discussion, and revision of bills before they are presented to the President for approval.
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Frequently asked questions
A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law.
A bill can be proposed by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups.
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.
After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President. If the President approves, it is signed and becomes law. If the President opposes the bill, they may veto it.
