Introducing Bills: Who Has The Power?

The process of introducing a bill differs between different legislative bodies. In the US, any member of the House of Representatives can introduce a bill while the House is in session by placing it in the hopper at the side of the Clerk's desk in the House Chamber. The bill then receives a designation and a number, and is referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker. In the US Senate, bills are submitted to clerks on the Senate floor and are typically referred to the committee with jurisdiction over the issue that predominates in the bill. In the California State Senate, bills are introduced and printed before appearing in the Daily File for four days, after which they are heard in a committee.

Any member of the House of Representatives can introduce a bill

Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned a legislative number by the Clerk and referred to the relevant committee by the Speaker, with input from the Parliamentarian. The bill is then printed in its introduced form. The committee action phase is crucial, as it involves intense consideration of the proposed measures and provides an opportunity for public input. Each bill is referred to the committee with jurisdiction over the area it affects, and if multiple committees are involved, each works on the portion under its jurisdiction.

In the Senate, the bill submission process is similar, with bills submitted to clerks on the Senate floor. However, in most cases, the bill is referred to only one committee with jurisdiction over the predominant issue in the bill. Occasionally, a bill may not go through a committee but instead be placed directly on the Senate Calendar of Business through specific procedural steps.

After a bill is introduced, it can be amended at any time during the legislative process, either in committee or on the Floor. Amendments can be substantial or technical, and it is important to follow them closely as they may affect one's position on the bill. Amendments are recorded in the Senate or Assembly History, and the bill is reprinted to reflect these changes. If a bill is amended by the other house (Senate or Assembly) and the house of origin does not agree with the amendments, the bill goes to a conference committee to negotiate the differences.

Bills are introduced by being placed in the hopper

The act of placing a bill in the hopper is significant as it marks the beginning of a bill's journey towards becoming a law. Any member of the House of Representatives can introduce a bill at any time while the House is in session by placing it in the hopper. This is a simple but crucial step, as it signifies the bill's entry into the legislative process. Once a bill is placed in the hopper, it is collected by the clerk, who assigns it a legislative number and refers it to the appropriate committee.

The hopper serves as a tangible symbol of the legislative process, representing the initial phase of a bill's progression. It is often referred to in metaphors and analogies, such as the refinement of grain into flour, which reflects the journey of a bill towards its final passage. The physical act of placing a bill in the hopper is a reminder of the importance of each piece of legislation and the steps it must go through to become a law.

The process of introducing a bill by placing it in the hopper is unique to the House of Representatives. In the Senate, bills are typically submitted directly to clerks on the Senate floor, although there is a historic Senate bill hopper from around 1817 on display in the Old Senate Chamber. This hopper had shelves instead of the 'bucket' shape seen in the congressional hopper.

Overall, the act of placing a bill in the hopper is a critical step in the legislative process, marking the beginning of a bill's journey and setting in motion the various stages it must go through to become a law. It is a tangible representation of the legislative process and a reminder of the importance of each bill introduced by members of the House of Representatives.

The sponsor's signature must be on the bill

The process of introducing a bill differs slightly between the House of Representatives and the Senate. In the House, a bill is introduced when it is placed in the "hopper" (a wooden box) on the side of the Clerk's desk in the House Chamber. In the Senate, the bill is submitted to clerks on the Senate floor. In both cases, the sponsor's signature must be on the bill. This signature is an important part of the legislative process, as it indicates the bill's sponsor and demonstrates their support for the proposal.

The sponsor of a bill is typically a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, and they are responsible for initiating the legislative process by introducing the bill. The sponsor's signature serves as a formal indication of their sponsorship and is required for the bill to be considered valid. It is worth noting that a public bill may have an unlimited number of co-sponsoring members, who can add their signatures to demonstrate their support.

The process of gathering signatures for a bill is often an important step in building support and momentum for the proposed legislation. Members may circulate the bill and actively seek additional sponsors, often by sending "Dear Colleague" letters to others in the chamber. This demonstrates a solid base of support for the idea and can increase the likelihood of the bill advancing through the legislative process.

The sponsor's signature on the bill also serves as a form of accountability and ownership. By signing the bill, the sponsor is indicating their willingness to stand behind the proposal and see it through the legislative process. It is a public declaration of their support for the idea and can be a significant factor in influencing other members to co-sponsor or support the bill.

In summary, the sponsor's signature on a bill is a crucial step in the legislative process. It not only indicates the bill's sponsor but also demonstrates their commitment to and ownership of the proposed legislation. This signature helps build support for the bill and is a fundamental aspect of the bill's introduction and progression through the House or Senate.

Bills can have an unlimited number of co-sponsors

In the United States, any member of the House of Representatives can introduce a bill at any time while the House is in session. This is done by submitting the bill in the "hopper" at the side of the Clerk's desk in the House Chamber. The sponsor's signature must be on the bill, and a public bill can have an unlimited number of co-sponsors. The bill is then assigned a legislative number by the Clerk and is referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker, with the assistance of the Parliamentarian.

The process is slightly different in the Senate. Here, the bill is submitted to clerks on the Senate floor and will receive a designation based on the chamber of introduction, such as H.R. or H.J.Res. for House-originated bills or S. or S.J.Res. for Senate-originated measures. In the Senate, bills are typically referred to the committee with jurisdiction over the issue that predominates in the bill.

It is important to note that only members of each chamber may introduce legislation, although occasionally a member may introduce a bill at the request of the President. Members may circulate the bill and ask others in the chamber to sign on as original co-sponsors to demonstrate support for the idea. This can be done through "Dear Colleague" letters.

While both the House and the Senate are equal in how they function, they do have some procedural differences. For example, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation, while only the Senate can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties. The House processes legislation through a majority vote, while the Senate engages in deliberation and debate before voting.

The bill is then referred to the appropriate committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned a legislative number by the Clerk and referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker, with the assistance of the Parliamentarian. The bill is then printed in its introduced form. This is an important phase of the legislative process as it is during committee action that the most intense consideration is given to the proposed measures, and the public is given the opportunity to be heard. Each piece of legislation is referred to the committee that has jurisdiction over the area affected by the bill. In the House, bills are referred by the Speaker, on the advice of the nonpartisan parliamentarian, to all committees that have jurisdiction over the provisions in the bill, as determined by the chamber's standing rules and past referral decisions. Most bills fall under the jurisdiction of one committee. If multiple committees are involved and receive the bill, each committee may only work on the portion of the bill under its jurisdiction. In the Senate, bills are typically referred to committee in a similar process, though in almost all cases, the bill is referred to only the committee with jurisdiction over the issue that predominates in the bill. In a limited number of cases, a bill might not be referred to a committee but instead be placed directly on the Senate Calendar of Business through a series of procedural steps on the floor.

Bills are not heard in policy committee until 30 days after they have been introduced and printed. Each bill must appear in the Daily File for four days prior to being heard in a committee. The Daily File is the agenda of the day's business, together with public notice of bills set for committee hearings. By checking the File, one can keep track of bills that are being scheduled for committee. If one lives out of town and plans to testify at the hearing, it is a good idea to call the author or your legislator to make sure that the bill is going to be heard on that date. Sometimes bills are taken off the agenda at the last moment. At this point, the role of the District Office should be emphasized. District Office staff are there to serve the needs of constituents. At any time during the legislative process, the bill may be amended, either in committee or on the Floor. After the amendments have been submitted to the author, the bill goes for another printing to reflect the changes that have been made. The Senate or Assembly History records the dates when a bill has been amended. Amendments can be substantial or technical and may affect one's position on the bill. Amendments should be followed very carefully. Contact with the District Office can be helpful in keeping track of current versions of a bill. If one subscribes to the bill, these amendments will be sent automatically. If one changes their position on a bill due to a favorable or unfavorable amendment, they should inform the author and their legislator. If a Senate bill is amended by the Assembly, or vice versa, and the house of origin refuses to concur in those amendments, the bill will go to a conference committee.

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