The Complicated Journey Of Bills To Laws

The process of a bill becoming a law is a complex one, requiring multiple steps and the involvement of various parties. In the US, the legislative process begins with the introduction of a bill, which is a proposal for a new law or a change to an existing one. This idea can come from a sitting member of the US Senate or House of Representatives, or it can be proposed by citizens or advocacy groups. Once introduced, the bill is assigned to a committee, which will research, discuss, and make changes to it. The bill then goes through a process of voting and further revisions in both the House and the Senate before being presented to the President for approval. The President can approve and sign the bill into law or veto it. If vetoed, Congress has the power to override this decision and pass the bill into law. This intricate journey of a bill to becoming a law ensures that all proposed legislation undergoes thorough scrutiny and deliberation before it is enacted.

The bill must be introduced and sponsored by a member of Congress

The legislative process in the United States is a complex and lengthy procedure. The first step is for a member of Congress to introduce a bill. This can be done by any member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives, who is then known as the "sponsor". The bill is then assigned a number, with "H.R." designating a bill introduced in the House of Representatives, and "S." designating a bill introduced in the Senate.

The bill is then referred to a committee, whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. There are 20 standing committees in the House and 16 in the Senate, each with a specific area of focus. The committee may also refer the bill to a subcommittee for further review. Once the committee has finished its review, it will vote on whether to report the bill to the full chamber of Congress. If the committee votes in favour of the bill, it is reported to the floor.

The bill is then put before the full chamber of Congress for a vote. If the bill passes one chamber of Congress, it goes through a similar process in the other chamber. Once both chambers have voted to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Finally, both chambers vote on the same version of the bill, and if it passes, it is presented to the President.

The bill must be assigned to a committee

Once a bill has been introduced, it is assigned to a committee. Committees are groups of Congress members with expertise in a particular area, such as health or international affairs. The committee will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may also hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather the views of experts and other stakeholders. This process allows for careful examination of the bill and helps determine its chances of passage by Congress.

Committees may refer bills to subcommittees for further review and hearings. Subcommittees are specialised groups that operate under committees and conduct a more detailed examination of the bill. They may make changes to the bill and must vote to refer it back to the full committee.

Once the committee has completed its work, it will meet to "mark up" the bill. This involves making revisions and amendments before recommending the bill to the "floor". If the committee votes against reporting the bill, it dies. However, if the committee votes in favour, the bill is reported to the floor, a process known as "ordering a bill reported".

The committee staff then prepares a written report explaining why they support the bill and why they wish to see their amendments adopted. Committee members who oppose the bill may write a dissenting opinion in the report. The report is sent back to the full chamber and placed on the calendar for further consideration.

The bill must be voted on by the full chamber

The process of a bill becoming a law is a long and complex one. Once a bill has been introduced, it must be voted on by the full chamber. In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it is placed in the hopper—a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. Only Representatives can introduce bills in the U.S. House of Representatives.

When a bill is introduced, a bill clerk assigns it a number that begins with H.R. A reading clerk then reads the bill to all the Representatives, and the Speaker of the House sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.

Once the bill reaches the committee, the committee members—groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations—review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send the bill back to the House floor. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is considered to be "dead".

If the committee members would like more information before deciding if the bill should be sent to the House floor, the bill is sent to a subcommittee. While in subcommittee, the bill is closely examined and expert opinions are gathered before it is sent back to the committee for approval.

When the committee has approved a bill, it is sent—or reported—to the House floor. Once reported, a bill is ready to be debated by the U.S. House of Representatives.

When a bill is debated, Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. Then, a reading clerk reads the bill section by section, and the Representatives recommend changes. When all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

There are three methods for voting on a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives:

• Viva Voce (voice vote): The Speaker of the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say “aye”, and those that oppose it say “no.”.
• Division: The Speaker of the House asks those Representatives who support the bill to stand up and be counted, and then those who oppose the bill to stand up and be counted.
• Recorded: Representatives record their vote using the electronic voting system. Representatives can vote yes, no, or present (if they don’t want to vote on the bill).

If a majority of the Representatives say or select yes, the bill passes in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill is then certified by the Clerk of the House and delivered to the U.S. Senate.

The bill must be referred to the other chamber

Once a bill has been passed by one chamber of Congress, it is referred to the other chamber, where it will undergo a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting.

The bill is first introduced in the second chamber. In the US House of Representatives, this is done by placing it in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. In the Senate, members must gain recognition from the presiding officer to announce the introduction of a bill during the morning hour. If any senator objects, the introduction is postponed until the next day.

The bill is then assigned to a committee, whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The committee may hold hearings to better understand the implications of the bill and gather the views of experts, other public officials, and supporters and opponents of the bill. The committee may also refer the bill to a subcommittee for further study and hearings. The subcommittee will then send the bill back to the committee, along with any recommended changes.

The committee will then meet to "mark up" the bill, making changes and amendments before recommending it to the floor. If the committee votes against the bill, it dies. If the committee votes in favour, the bill is reported to the floor.

Once the bill reaches the floor, there is additional debate, and members of the full chamber vote to approve any amendments. The bill is then passed or defeated by the members' votes.

If the bill is passed by the second chamber, it is then sent to the President. If the bill is rejected or ignored, it dies. If the second chamber makes changes to the bill, it is sent back to the first chamber for approval.

The bill must be signed by the President

Once a bill has been passed by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President for review. The President has three options: they can sign the bill into law, veto it, or do nothing (pocket veto). If the President approves of the bill, they will sign it and it will become law. If they do not approve, they can veto it, sending it back to Congress with a note listing their reasons. If the President does nothing for 10 days and Congress is still in session, the bill will automatically become law. However, if Congress is not in session, the bill will not become law.

If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to override the veto. If two-thirds of the Representatives and Senators support the bill, the President's veto is overridden, and the bill becomes a law. This is known as a "pocket veto" and can only be used when Congress is not in session.

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