Understanding The Process: Nc Bills To Laws

The process of passing a law in North Carolina is a complex one, involving multiple stages. A bill can be drafted by any competent person, but it must be submitted by a legislator to one of the two chambers for consideration. The legislator who introduces the bill is known as the 'primary sponsor'. The bill is then assigned to a relevant policy committee for consideration. If approved, it proceeds to the next stage, where it is debated on the floor of the House or Senate. It must pass both second and third readings to move forward. After passing all three readings in its chamber of origin, the bill goes through the same process in the other chamber. Once it has passed both chambers, the bill is enrolled and sent to the Governor, who may sign it into law, veto it, or let it become law without their signature.

Who can suggest legislation?

In North Carolina, a concerned citizen, group, organisation, state agency, or legislator can suggest legislation. Bills can be drafted by any "competent" person, most likely working within the General Assembly. However, a legislator must submit any drafted legislation to one of the two chambers for consideration.

Legislators who introduce bills are known as "primary sponsors". Other legislators may sign onto a bill before it is introduced in either chamber as "co-sponsors". Legislators work with the NC General Assembly Bill Drafting Division to draft legislation. At this point, the bill must be filed with the Principal Clerk and is then made public.

On any day the legislature is in session, the Speaker of the House or Senate President calls for "Introduction of Bills and Resolutions", at which point new bills are "read" or introduced. This typically happens the next "legislative" business day after the bill was filed with the clerk.

How are bills introduced?

The process of passing a law in North Carolina is a long and thorough one. It ensures that policies that will affect people's daily lives are well-considered and thoroughly vetted. The introduction of a bill is the second step in the law-making process, after the drafting of the bill.

Any "competent" person, likely working within the General Assembly, can draft a bill. However, a legislator must submit any drafted legislation to one of the two chambers for consideration. The legislator who sponsors the bill is known as the "primary sponsor". Other legislators may sign on as "co-sponsors" before the bill is introduced.

The legislator sponsoring the proposed legislation is responsible for introducing it to their respective chamber. This is known as the "first reading". The bill is considered to have passed its first reading when the Reading Clerk reads aloud its name and number. This typically happens the next legislative business day after the bill was filed with the Principal Clerk.

Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a relevant policy committee for consideration. If the committee approves the bill, it is placed on the calendar for consideration by the entire House or Senate.

What happens after referral to a committee?

Once a bill has been referred to a committee, it is studied by the committee members who will recommend what happens next. The bill is assigned to a relevant policy committee, such as finance, education, or healthcare, to be considered. Amendments can be made to the bill at this stage. If the committee approves the bill, it is placed on the calendar for consideration by the entire House or Senate. This is known as the second reading.

If the vote is favorable in the house in which the bill was introduced, it moves to its third and final reading. After the third reading, the bill is sent to the other house, where it goes through the same process, including referral to a committee.

The bill is debated on the floor of the House or Senate and must pass both the second and third readings to move forward. The amount of time it takes to pass a bill can vary depending on the level of debate and the number of amendments. Once a bill has passed both houses, it is enrolled.

What is the process for consideration by the first and second houses?

The process for a bill to become a law in North Carolina involves several steps, and the journey is identical but separate for the first and second houses. Here is an overview of the process for consideration by the first and second houses:

First House:

The first house can be either the House of Representatives or the Senate, depending on where the bill is introduced. Once the bill is introduced, it undergoes its first reading, where the Reading Clerk reads aloud the name and number of the bill. After the first reading, the bill is referred to a relevant policy committee for consideration. If the committee approves, the bill moves to the second reading, where it is debated on the floor of the house and can be amended. If it passes the second reading, it moves to the third and final reading in the first house.

Second House:

After passing all three readings in the first house, the bill moves to the second house, which can be either the Senate or the House of Representatives, whichever was not the first house. In the second house, the bill goes through the exact same process as in the first house: it is referred to a committee, undergoes all three readings, and can be amended. If the second house approves the bill without changes, it is then ready for enrollment, ratification, and publication.

However, if the second house wants to make changes, members from both houses are appointed to a "conference committee" to reconcile differences. The two chambers then vote on the conference committee's recommended bill text. If the recommendation is rejected, new members are appointed to the conference committee to try again. If the second recommendation is also denied, the bill is defeated. If the bill passes with changes, it is then ready for enrollment, ratification, and publication.

What happens after a bill is enrolled?

In North Carolina, a bill is "enrolled" once it has passed both chambers of the General Assembly. At this point, the bill is sent to the Governor, who has 10 days to act. The Governor may then choose to sign the bill into law, veto it, or let it become law without their signature. If the Governor vetoes the bill, it can still become law if a 3/5 majority vote in each chamber agrees to override the veto. Once the bill becomes law, it is published.

In the US, the process is similar. Once a bill has been passed in identical form by both the House and the Senate, it is considered "enrolled". The enrolled bill is then sent to the President, who has 10 days to either sign the measure into law or veto it. If the President does neither, then at the end of the session, they can use a pocket veto to strike down the bill.

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