Polices To Laws: The Journey Of Governance

The process of turning a policy into a law varies from country to country, but there are some commonalities. In the United States, for example, a bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. It can be introduced by a sitting member of the Senate or House of Representatives, during an election campaign, or by citizen groups who petition their representative. Once introduced, a bill is assigned to a committee that will research, discuss, and make changes to it. It is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes, it goes through a similar process in the other body. Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must reconcile any differences, and then both chambers vote on the same version. If it passes, they present it to the president, who can either approve and sign it into law or veto it. Congress can, in most cases, override a veto and the bill becomes law.

In a similar way, policies are turned into laws at the state level. A bill is drafted and introduced in the House or Senate, and then sent to a committee. If the committee passes the bill, it is sent to the House/Senate floor for a vote. After passing both the Senate and House, the bill is sent to the governor to be signed into law.

The federal government in the US has three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The legislative branch, or Congress, is responsible for passing federal laws, and consists of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Senators are elected every six years, and there are 100 of them, two from each state. Representatives, on the other hand, are elected every two years, and there are currently 435. They are elected from congressional districts within each state.

The role of advocacy groups and lobbyists in shaping public policy

Advocacy groups and lobbyists play a crucial role in shaping public policy. They are key tools for individuals and organisations seeking to bring about change and influence decision-making processes. Advocacy groups promote specific causes, ideas or policies, while lobbyists try to influence members of the legislature to impact specific legislation or regulations.

Advocacy groups aim to raise awareness, educate the public and mobilise support for their cause. They engage in activities such as organising rallies, conducting research, drafting reports and using social media to promote their message. Examples include environmental groups promoting renewable energy policies, civil rights organisations advocating for social justice reforms, and healthcare advocates pushing for affordable healthcare access. Advocacy groups may also engage in lobbying activities to advance their policy goals.

Lobbying involves direct communication with policymakers and can take various forms, including direct lobbying and grassroots lobbying. Direct lobbying involves face-to-face interactions between lobbyists and lawmakers, such as meetings, briefings and hearings. Grassroots lobbying, on the other hand, involves mobilising public support to influence policymakers indirectly through letter-writing campaigns, phone calls and petitions. Lobbying organisations may hire professional lobbyists, form coalitions with like-minded groups and conduct media campaigns to shape public opinion.

Advocacy and lobbying are distinct practices but often overlap in their strategies and objectives. They employ various tactics such as research, public outreach and direct engagement with policymakers to advance their agendas. Both rely on leveraging relationships, networks and resources to amplify their messages and achieve their desired outcomes.

While advocacy and lobbying are important tools in shaping public policy, ethical considerations must be taken into account. Transparency, integrity and accountability are essential to maintain credibility. Advocates and lobbyists should disclose their affiliations, funding sources and any potential conflicts of interest. Additionally, lobbying activities should not unduly influence decision-makers or compromise the democratic process.

The legislative process in the US

Firstly, a bill must be proposed. Anyone can draft a bill, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation and become the bill's sponsor. Bills can be proposed by sitting members of the US Senate or House of Representatives, or be part of their election campaign. They can also 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.

The committee stage involves the bill being allocated to a committee, which chooses whether to hear it or not. If chosen, the committee will hold hearings and investigations to understand the bill's potential impact. This is when people can share their views on the bill. The bill is then 'marked up', meaning amendments are added. If the committee backs the bill, they will 'order the bill to be reported' or report it out of the committee.

The next stage is timetabling, which is done differently in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House of Representatives, the bill is given to the House Rules Committee, which decides whether the bill will make it to the floor, how long it will be debated, and whether amendments can be added. In the Senate, the Leadership agrees on which bills make it to the floor.

The bill is then debated, and where allowed, amendments are added. This is the stage in the Senate where the bill may be filibustered. All debates are followed by a vote. If the bill passes, it moves on to the next stage; if not, it dies.

The bill then goes through a final approval stage, where it is debated one last time before a final vote. This debate is usually small and non-controversial. As the bill has passed through Congress concurrently, there are now two versions of the same bill. A conference committee, made up of House and Senate members, is called to reconcile the two versions and create a single text. This typically happens with around 10% of bills. Once reconciled, the bill goes before one final vote. If it fails to pass in one chamber, the bill dies.

The final stage of the legislative process is presidential action. The President has three options: they can sign the bill into law, let it become law after 10 days (known as a 'pocket veto' if Congress adjourns before this period is up), or veto it. If the bill is vetoed, it is sent back to Congress, which must then vote with two-thirds majorities in each house for the bill to become law.

The role of committees in the legislative process

Committees play a crucial role in the legislative process, which begins with a Representative sponsoring a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study and consideration. Committees are essential to the effective operation of the Senate and are responsible for gathering information, drafting and recommending legislation to the full membership of the Senate.

Each committee has a specific jurisdiction defined by subject matter, and bills are referred accordingly. For example, the Committee on the Judiciary has jurisdiction over matters relating to judicial proceedings, constitutional amendments, immigration policy, and more. Committees receive many bill referrals and the committee chair has the chief agenda-setting authority, deciding which bills the committee will act on through hearings and/or markups.

Hearings are a forum for committee members and the public to hear about the strengths and weaknesses of a proposal from selected parties, such as relevant industries and citizen groups. They also serve to spotlight legislation to colleagues, the public, and the press. After witnesses provide oral and written remarks, committee members ask questions. While hearings provide a formal setting for feedback, committees also engage in additional assessment through informal briefings.

A markup is the key formal step for a bill to advance. The committee considers possible changes by offering and voting on amendments. If the committee agrees to report the bill by majority vote, it moves forward with any recommended changes. Most committees also establish subcommittees to further focus on specific elements of the policy area.

The committee process allows for intensive consideration of proposed measures and provides a forum for public input. Committees play a vital role in the legislative process by evaluating, shaping, and advancing bills before they go to the full Senate or House for a vote.

The role of the executive branch in the legislative process

The executive branch of the US government is headed by the President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. The President is responsible for implementing and enforcing the laws written by Congress and, to that end, appoints the heads of federal agencies, including the Cabinet. The Vice President is also part of the executive branch, ready to assume the Presidency should the need arise.

The executive branch also includes the Cabinet and independent federal agencies, which are responsible for the day-to-day enforcement and administration of federal laws. The Cabinet is an advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments. Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, Cabinet members are often the President's closest confidants.

The President has the power either to sign legislation into law or to veto bills enacted by Congress, although Congress may override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses. The President also conducts diplomacy with other nations and has the power to negotiate and sign treaties, which the Senate then ratifies. The President can issue executive orders, which direct executive officers or clarify and further existing laws. They also have the power to extend pardons and clemencies for federal crimes.

The executive branch plays a key role in the legislative process, which begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. While anyone can write a bill, only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of the President, such as the annual federal budget. Once introduced, a bill is referred to the appropriate committee for review. There are 17 Senate committees, with 70 subcommittees, and 23 House committees, with 104 subcommittees. The committees and subcommittees call hearings to investigate the merits and flaws of the bill, inviting experts, advocates, and opponents to appear and provide testimony. If the committee votes to approve the bill, it is reported to the floor of the House or Senate, and the majority party leadership decides when to place the bill on the calendar for consideration.

If a 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 then has several options. If they agree with the bill, they may sign it into law. If they believe the law to be bad policy, they may veto it and send it back to Congress. Congress may override the veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber, at which point the bill becomes law. If Congress is in session and the President takes no action within 10 days, the bill becomes law. However, if Congress adjourns before 10 days are up and the President takes no action, the bill dies—this is called a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress.

The role of the president in the legislative process

Article II, Section 3 of the US Constitution outlines the president's legislative duties, including the requirement to "from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient". The president is also responsible for executing and enforcing the laws written by Congress, and has the power to either sign legislation into law or veto bills enacted by Congress.

The president's role in the legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill to Congress. While anyone can write a bill, only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of the president, such as the annual federal budget. The president can also send a message or letter to Congress, known as an "executive communication", transmitting a draft of a proposed bill.

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it. 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. Once both bodies have voted to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions and then vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes, it is presented to the president for consideration.

The president has several options when presented with a bill. They can choose to sign it into law, or veto it and send it back to Congress. Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both houses, at which point the bill becomes law. If the president takes no action on a bill within 10 days and Congress remains in session, the bill will become law. However, if Congress adjourns before the 10 days are up and the president takes no action, the bill is vetoed by default, known as a "pocket veto", which cannot be overridden by Congress.

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