What steps are taken for a bill to become a law?

Answer 1

The general process for making a bill into a law is described in the Constitution. As with many things, however, the Constitution leaves most of the details to the people of the day, dictating just the overall picture. Before we delve into those details, however, a look at the general process is useful. First, a bill must pass both houses of Congress by a majority vote. After it has passed out of Congress, it is sent along to the President. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law. The President might not sign the bill, however. If he specifically rejects the bill, called a veto, the bill returns to Congress. There it is voted on again, and if both houses of Congress pass the bill again, but this time by a two-thirds majority, then the bill becomes law without the President's signature. This is called "overriding a veto," and is difficult to do because of the two-thirds majority requirement. Alternately, the President can sit on the bill, taking no action on it at all. If the President takes no action at all, and ten days passes (not including Sundays), the bill becomes law without the President's signature. However, if the Congress has adjourned before the ten days passes and without a Presidential signature, the bill fails. This is known as a pocket veto.

Answer 2

Anyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and, by doing so, become the sponsor(s). The president, a member of the cabinet or the head of a federal agency can also propose legislation, although a member of Congress must introduce it.

As soon as a bill is introduced, it is referred to a committee. At this point the bill is examined carefully and its chances for passage are first determined. If the committee does not act on a bill, the bill is effectively "dead."

Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials and supporters, and opponents of the legislation.

When the hearings are completed, the subcommittee may meet to "mark up" the bill; that is, make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report legislation to the full committee, the bill dies. If the committee votes for the bill, it is sent to the floor.

After receiving a subcommittee's report on a bill the full committee votes on its recommendation to the House or Senate. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported."

After the debate and the approval of any amendments, the bill is passed or defeated by the members voting.

When the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows the same route through committee and floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.

When the actions of the other chamber significantly alter the bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is reached, a conference report is prepared describing the committee members' recommendations for changes. Both the House and Senate must approve the conference report.

After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the president. If the president approves of the legislation, he signs it and it becomes law. Or, if the president takes no action for ten days, while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.If the president opposes the bill he can veto it; or if he takes no action after the Congress has adjourned its second session, it is a "pocket veto" and the legislation dies.

If the president vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to "override the veto." If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the president's veto is overruled and the bill becomes a law.

Answer 3

A bill must start in either the House of Representatives (the lower of the two Legislative houses) or the Senate (the higher of the two Legislative houses) [1]. It must have a simple majority (1/2 + 1 of the members) in favor of passing the bill in to law to be passed to the other house (H of R or Senate, depending on where the bill was started). Once it has a simple majority in the other house, it moves onto the President. He (or She) may sign it into law, or veto it [2]. If the President vetos it, then it must travel back to the house of origin and have a 2/3 majority in favor to go to the other house. If the other house votes in favor with a 2/3 majority, then the bill becomes a law. It should also be noted that most interpreting and reading of the bill is done in committees.

[1] It should be noted that most interpreting and reading of the bill is done in committees.

[2] It should also be noted that if the President does not sign off on a bill for 7 days (excluding sunday), and Congress is adjourned, the Bill is vetoed (called a "pocket veto"), but if Congress is not adjourned then the bill becomes a law.

Answer 4

Bill is introduced, bill is assigned to committee, committee studies bill and makes report, bill is read for a second time, members of house debate and vote on bill, bill is accepted by house bill is sent to senate to go through same process, bill is accepted by senate, sent to president and signed a law

Answer 5

Bill Introduced -> Committee debate -> committee vote -> floor debate -> floor vote.

If passed in one house, it has to go through the same process in the other (e.g. if passed in Senate, then the House must also pass the legislation).

If the House and Senate bills are different, there is a conference between the two bodies. If they come up with a new bill, it has to pass in both houses again. Or the Senate could just pass the House's version (or vice versa). Then the President can veto the bill, sign the bill (possibly making a signing statement), or take no action. If he takes no action, the bill becomes a law without his/her signature. If he vetoes it, then Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote.

Answer 6

1. Anyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and, by doing so, become the sponsor(s). The president, a member of the cabinet or the head of a federal agency can also propose legislation, although a member of Congress must introduce it.

2. Anyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress can introduce legislation, and, by doing so, become the sponsor(s). The president, a member of the cabinet or the head of a federal agency can also propose legislation, although a member of Congress must introduce it.

3. Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch, experts, other public officials and supporters, and opponents of the legislation.

4.When the hearings are completed, the subcommittee may meet to "mark up" the bill; that is, make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report legislation to the full committee, the bill dies. If the committee votes for the bill, it is sent to the floor.

5. After receiving a subcommittee's report on a bill the full committee votes on its recommendation to the House or Senate. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported."

6. After the debate and the approval of any amendments, the bill is passed or defeated by the members voting

7. When the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows the same route through committee and floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.

8. When the actions of the other chamber significantly alter the bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is reached, a conference report is prepared describing the committee members' recommendations for changes. Both the House and Senate must approve the conference report.

9. After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, it is sent to the president. If the president approves of the legislation, he signs it and it becomes law. Or, if the president takes no action for ten days, while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law. If the president opposes the bill he can veto it; or if he takes no action after the Congress has adjourned its second session, it is a "pocket veto" and the legislation dies.

10. If the president vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to "override the veto." If both the Senate and the House pass the bill by a two-thirds majority, the president's veto is overruled and the bill becomes a law.

Answer 7

Introduction and 1st reading.

Assigned to committee.

Committee holds hearings and then votes on measure.

2nd reading.

Vote by full chamber. If approved gets sent to other chamber.

1st reading.

Assigned to committee.

Committee holds hearings and then votes on measure.

2nd reading.

If the chamber makes changes and approves the measure it is then referred to a conference committee for resolution of differences.

If bill is not changed it goes to the chief executive (President for federal statute,

Governor for state statute, Mayor for local ordinance) for signing or veto.The final bill is then signed and becomes Law.

Answer 8

Someone didn't get to watch Schoolhouse Rock when they were a child.

Answer 9

each house of congress votes on the bill