Gavin Howe
In the United States, a bill, or a proposal for a new law or change to an existing law, can be suggested 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 people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. In the UK, bills are usually debated by both Houses of Parliament. If a citizen feels strongly about a bill, they can ask their MP or a member of the House of Lords to raise an issue on their behalf. They can also submit evidence directly to a public bill committee during its committee stage in the Commons.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | USA, UK |
| Suggesting a new law | Sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, citizen groups, U.S. citizens, organised interest groups |
| Process | Contacting a legislator, reaching out to elected officials, attending public hearings, writing to the editor, contacting a Member of the Lords, submitting evidence to a Public Bill Committee |
| Limitations | Citizens cannot introduce bills on their own, legislators can only request new bills during the Fall of each year |
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What You'll Learn
US citizens and interest groups can suggest laws
US citizens cannot introduce bills on their own, but they can ask a legislator to sponsor a bill on their behalf. Citizens can start by contacting their current elected officials or, if they are sure all of their local legislators would oppose their idea, they can try to find a legislator from another district that might agree with their cause. Citizens can contact legislators by phone, email, or snail mail, and if their idea is complex, they can ask for a meeting to talk through their thoughts. Citizens can also show up at public hearings to voice support for their bill, contact their elected officials and urge them to vote for the bill, and write letters to the editor raising awareness of their bill.
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. Each standing committee also has the function of reviewing and studying, on a continuing basis, the impact or probable impact of tax policies on subjects within its jurisdiction.
If the bill passes both houses of Congress, 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 chooses to veto the bill, in most cases, Congress can vote to override that veto, and the bill becomes a law.
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Citizens cannot introduce bills alone
Citizens play an important role in the legislative process, but they cannot introduce bills alone. In the United States, while citizens cannot directly propose a new law, they can petition or recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. Citizens can also reach out to their elected officials, including their local legislators, by phone, email, or mail, to sponsor a bill on their behalf. They can urge these officials to support or oppose a bill and even request a meeting to discuss more complex ideas. Citizens can further get involved by attending public hearings to voice their support for a bill and writing letters to the editor to raise awareness.
In the United Kingdom, citizens can share their views on proposed new laws by contacting a Member of the Lords or submitting evidence to a Public Bill Committee. They can also reach out to their Member of Parliament (MP) to raise an issue on their behalf, provide information, or request a meeting to discuss their views. While MPs are not required to vote according to their constituents' wishes, they typically consider their viewpoints. Citizens can also provide input by responding to a 'call for evidence' issued by a public bill committee, which invites members of the public to submit written evidence to inform the committee's work.
In both the US and UK, citizens can influence the legislative process and advocate for new laws or amendments by engaging with their elected officials and participating in public hearings and discussions. While they may not introduce bills independently, their involvement is crucial in shaping the direction of legislation.
It is worth noting that the legislative process in both the US and the UK emphasizes the protection of the minority and allows all sides to be heard, ensuring that the views of citizens are taken into account during the consideration and approval of new laws.
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Ask a legislator to sponsor a bill
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 or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.
If you have an idea for a bill, the first step is to find a legislator who may support your idea. You can start with your current elected officials. If you are sure all of your local legislators would oppose your idea, you can try to find a legislator from another district that might agree with your cause. Try looking for similar bills from previous years and identify the sponsors of those bills.
You can contact a legislator by phone, email, or snail mail. Different legislators have different preferences when connecting with voters, so there is no right or wrong way to reach out. If your idea is very complex, it might be better to ask for a meeting to talk through your thoughts.
Legislators can only request new bills during the Fall of each year, so if you have a big new idea, you might have to wait several months before it becomes a reality. After legislators file bill requests, they work with legislative staff who draft the exact bill text. Bills are then introduced in January, at which point public hearings and votes begin. If your idea is related to a bill that is already going through the legislative process, your legislator might be able to introduce your idea as an amendment to that bill.
You can also show up at public hearings to voice support for your bill, contact your elected officials and urge them to vote for the bill, and write a letter to the editor raising awareness of your bill.
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Bills are debated by both Houses of Parliament
In the context of lawmaking, a bill refers to a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law. Bills can be introduced by sitting members of the Senate or House of Representatives, or they may be proposed during election campaigns. Additionally, citizens or groups can petition their representatives in Congress to introduce a bill. Once a bill is introduced, it undergoes a rigorous process of debate, amendment, and voting in both Houses of Parliament before it can become a law.
In the United States, the legislative process involves both the Senate and the House of Representatives, each with its own unique procedures. While both chambers are equal in function, they have specific areas of legislative initiation. For instance, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation, while the Senate handles matters related to presidential nominations and treaties.
The process begins with the introduction of a bill, followed by its assignment to a committee. This committee researches, discusses, and makes amendments to the bill. The bill is then presented to one chamber for debate, amendments, and a vote. If the bill passes in one chamber, it moves to the other chamber, where it undergoes a similar process of research, discussion, amendments, and voting. This back-and-forth between the two chambers allows for a thorough examination of the bill's merits and potential improvements.
During the debate process, amendments to the bill may be offered, which can involve inserting new language, substituting words, or deleting portions of the text. These amendments must be inserted precisely and are subject to specific formatting requirements. The Senate must receive an accurate copy of the bill, including all amendments, from the House. This step ensures that both chambers are working from the same version of the bill.
Once a bill has passed both chambers, any differences between the two versions must be reconciled, and both chambers must vote on the same version of the bill. If the bill passes this stage, it is presented to the president for approval or veto. This intricate process, involving both Houses of Parliament, ensures that laws are thoroughly debated, amended, and approved before being enacted.
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The President can veto a bill
In the United States, the president can use their veto power to prevent a bill passed by Congress from becoming law. This is a “revisionary power”, not an absolute veto, as Congress can override a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote of both chambers. The president's objections to the bill must be stated in writing, and Congress is required to consider them.
If the president chooses to veto a bill, they must return it unsigned within ten days (excluding Sundays) to the house of the United States Congress in which it originated, while Congress is in session. If Congress adjourns before the ten days have passed, the bill fails to become law, and this action is called a pocket veto, which cannot be overridden by Congress.
The president may also issue a pocket veto with a message setting forth their objections to prevent confusion as to whether the legislation was vetoed or should have automatically become law. A bill becomes law without the president's signature if it is not signed within the ten days allotted while Congress is still in session.
In addition to the president, all state and territorial governors have veto power, as do some mayors and county executives. In many states and territories, the governor has additional veto powers, including line-item, amendatory, and reduction vetoes.
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Frequently asked questions
In the US, a bill (a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law) can be suggested by a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.
In the UK, bills (proposed new laws) are usually debated by both Houses of Parliament. If you feel strongly about a bill, you can ask your MP or a member of the House of Lords to raise an issue on your behalf. You can also send information (submit evidence) directly to a public bill committee during its committee stage in the Commons.
If you have an idea for a bill, the first step is to find a legislator who may support your idea. You can contact a legislator by phone, email, or snail mail. If your idea is complex, it might be better to ask for a meeting to talk through your thoughts.
