How A Bill Becomes A Law: Jefferson Smith's Guide

In the film *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*, Jefferson Smith learns about the process of how a bill becomes a law from Saunders, the glamorous wife of Senator Paine. Smith, who is new to his role as Senator, wants to introduce and pass a bill for a National Boys Camp. Saunders, who is jaded and disillusioned by Washington, D.C., is assigned to help Smith. In the process, she educates him on the legislative process, including how to introduce a bill and the importance of filibusters.

A bill is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing law

The committee stage is a crucial part of the legislative process. Committees are composed of groups of Congress members with specific interests or expertise in different areas, such as health or international affairs. The committee examines the bill in detail, holds hearings to understand its implications, and determines its chances of passage by Congress. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is considered "dead". Subcommittees, which operate under committees and have further specialization in specific topics, may also review and make changes to the bill before sending it back to the full committee.

After the committee stage, the bill is ready to be voted on by the full chamber. The bill is then put before the chamber (House or Senate) to be debated and voted on. If the bill passes one body of Congress, it moves to the other body, where it goes through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting. This process allows for further input and amendments to the bill before it reaches the final stages of becoming a law.

Once a bill passes both the House and the Senate, any differences between the two versions need to be reconciled. Both chambers then vote on the same version of the bill. If it passes this final vote, the bill is presented to the President for approval. The President can choose to sign the bill into law or veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress has the power to override the veto and pass the bill into law with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.

A bill can be proposed by a sitting member of the US Senate or House of Representatives

In the film *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*, Jefferson Smith learns about the process of how a bill becomes a law. This process begins with the proposal of a bill, which can be introduced by any sitting member of the US Senate or House of Representatives.

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 US Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by citizens or groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.

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 sponsor is the primary Congress member supporting the bill, and any other members who support the bill are called "co-sponsors". After introduction, the bill is assigned a number (e.g. HR 1 or S 1) and sent to the Government Printing Office (GPO) to be copied.

The process of turning a bill into a law is called the legislative process. It involves several steps, including the introduction of legislation, committee action, subcommittee review, committee mark-up, voting by the full chamber, referral to the other chamber, and, finally, review by the President.

In the film, Jefferson Smith wants to introduce and pass a bill for a National Boys Camp. He faces various challenges and obstacles, including opposition from other senators and negative media coverage. However, with determination and the support of others, he navigates the legislative process and works to turn his bill into a law.

A bill can be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups

In the United States, a bill can be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them. This is one of the first steps in the process of how a bill becomes a law.

Citizens who have ideas for laws can contact their Representatives to discuss their ideas. If the Representatives agree, they research the ideas and write them into bills. 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. Once a bill is introduced, it can be found on Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation.

The bill is then assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may even choose to hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill. Hearings allow the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials, and supporters and opponents of the legislation to be put on the record. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is considered to be "dead".

After the committee stage, the bill goes through several more steps before becoming a law. These include being voted on by the full chamber, referral to the other chamber, and review by the President.

A bill is assigned to a committee for research, discussion, and changes

In the 1939 film *Mr. Smith Goes to Washington*, Jefferson Smith learns about the process of how a bill becomes a law. While the film doesn't detail every step, it does show how a bill is assigned to a committee for research, discussion, and changes.

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Committees are made up of groups of members of Congress who are particularly interested in or knowledgeable about a certain topic, such as health or international affairs. The committee will carefully examine the bill, research it, and determine its chances of passage by the entire Congress.

The committee may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather the views of experts, public officials, and supporters and opponents of the legislation. These hearings allow for a diverse range of perspectives to be put on the record.

If the committee decides that further information is required before making a decision, the bill is sent to a subcommittee for more specialised study and hearings. The subcommittee may make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee.

Once the hearings and subcommittee review are complete, the committee will meet to make revisions and additions to the bill. This process is called a "'mark-up' session". If substantial amendments are made, the committee can introduce a "clean bill" that includes the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number and replace the old one.

Finally, the committee will vote on whether to report the bill to the full chamber of Congress. If the committee votes against reporting the bill, it dies. However, if the committee votes in favour, the bill is reported to the floor, and this procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".

A bill must pass both bodies of Congress and be presented to the President

In the film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Jefferson Smith learns that a bill must pass both bodies of Congress and be presented to the President to become a law. This is a complex process that involves multiple stages.

Firstly, a bill is proposed by a member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be petitioned by citizens or citizen groups. The bill is then introduced, where it is assigned a number and given to the clerk of the House or placed in the hopper. The bill is labelled with the sponsor's name and sent to the Government Printing Office.

Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may refer the bill to a subcommittee for further review and hearings. The committee will then meet to make any necessary revisions and additions, before reporting the bill back to the full chamber.

The bill is then put before the chamber to be voted on. If it passes one body of Congress, it goes through the same process in the other body. If the bill passes both bodies, they must work out any differences between the two versions and vote on the same version of the bill.

Finally, if the bill passes both bodies of Congress, it is presented to the President for review. The President can choose to approve the bill and sign it into law, or they can veto it. If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can vote to override the veto, and the bill can still become a law.

This process is a key function of Congress as the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government, and it allows for the creation and modification of laws.

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