Question

Explain the steps of how a bill becomes a law.

Where does legislation begin?

What are the many steps through Congress and where does the bill end up?  

Answer 1

1. The Creation of a Bill- House or Senate members write, approve, and submit legislation to Congress for consideration. The House clerk assigns a legislative number to the House of Representatives and the Senate clerk assigns a legislative number to the Senate for proposals

Committee Action- A committee is typically appointed to analyze the bill according to its subject-matter. A commission will also assign the bill to one of its subcommittees. The subcommittee can request reports from government agencies, hold hearings so that experts and stakeholders have an opportunity to provide testimony on the topic, "mark" or study the legislation, or refer the law to the full committee for consideration.

Floor Action- The bill is submitted for further discussion and consideration to the entire House or Senate. Members may introduce amendments to the bill at this stage, add additional text or change the bill otherwise.

Vote- House and Senate members vote on their respective versions of the proposed bill.

Presidential Action- After both Houses approve the bill, it is submitted to the President for his approval or signature, which becomes a Public Law if granted. This is known as a veto when a President speaks on and declines to sign a bill. A vetoed bill will go back for reconsideration to Congress. If the President refuses to act within 10 days the bill is automatically law.

The Creation of a Law- The Federal Register Office assigns a number to public law, and a copy of it is printed by the Government Printing Office. Laws are first published in slip form or in a single publication containing one rule. This is then grouped in the order it was moved in. Finally, it is codified into the order of the subject, so that all laws of the same subject fall together.

2. Laws start out as ideas. First, a bill is sponsored by a delegate. The bill is then referred to study committee. The bill is placed on a calendar when issued by the committee to be voted on, debated or amended. The bill travels to the Senate if it passes by a simple majority. The bill is referred to another committee in the Senate and will be discussed and voted on if released. Again, the bill is passed by a simple majority. Finally, any differences between the House and Senate versions of the legislation are sorted out by a negotiating committee made up of House and Senate Members. The resulting bill returns to the House and Senate for final approval. The Government Printing Office prints the revised bill in a process called enrolling. The President has 10 days to sign or veto the enrolled bill.

3. This is submitted to the President after both the House and the Senate have approved a bill of the same form. If the president endorses the bill, he signs it and it becomes law. However, if the president does not take action for ten days when Congress is in session, it becomes law automatically. If the president opposes the bill, he will veto it; or if he does not take action until Congress has adjourned its second session, it is a "pocket veto" and the law dies.