Essay On How A Bill Becomes A Law

The process in which a bill becomes a law can be a lengthy one, it must go through many steps in order to become the law of the land. It is believed that this process should be a matter that every American citizen should be informed of in order to fully understand and appreciate the inner workings of congress with regard to The House of Representatives and the Senate. The steps in which a bill becomes a law is an example of the democratic way of life here in The United States. “The fact that a proposal cannot become a law without consideration and approval by both houses of congress is an outstanding virtue of our bicameral legislative system.” (Sullivan 1-2)

Before there is a law, there is a bill – and bills have many phases to pass through before these may become laws. The course materials of week three point out that a bill can originate

In this process a bill is drafted, then it is introduced in the house. The Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee, the committee decides to make changes to the bill or kill it. If the bill gets sent on, it gets sent to the Senate. In the senate it is sent to another committee and if majority vote for it, the bill will go to the whole Senate. The bill gets debated and amendments add, if needed, and then sent back to the House. Any changes made and House doesn’t agree it goes to a committee to find compromises. After the compromise it goes to the President. If the President vetoes the bill, ⅔ majority of the House can override the veto.

Firstly the members of congress, executive branch, or members of outside community draw up a bill. After that the members of the house only will have to introduce the bill on the floor of house of representative. Then the bill is sent to the committee. Only bills that are necessary and reasonably appropriate make it to the next step, which is the rules of a committee for debate. Then it goes back to the floor of the house for a debate and members of the house then will vote for the bill. If the bill is in favor by most of the members of the house, hence the bill is sent to the senate. The senator introduces the bill on the floor. If the majority of the committees agree then the bill goes to the entire senate to consider the bill. As it follows the same process of the house, there is a debate and if majority votes for the bill then the bill is returned back to the house of representative.

Once the bill reaches its date, the members initiate a debate regarding the proposed legislation (“The Legislative Process,” 2014). At this time, amendments may be approved and the bill is voted on by the members. If the bill is passed, it is referred to the other chamber and undergoes the same process. If the bill is accepted by both the House and Senate, it is sent to the President. The President has the option to approve or veto the bill. If signed by the President, it becomes law. Congress may try to override the President’s veto by two thirds vote of the members (“The Legislative Process,” 2014).

There are seven basic steps: Introduction, referral or assignment to house or senate committees, considered in house or senate committees, placement of bill on a legislative calendar, considered on the house or senate floor, signed or vetoed by governor, and lastly the bill does or does not become a law.

Every order, resolution, or vote to which the consensus of the Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary is presented to the President and must be approved by him to take effect. If it is disapproved by him, is must be passed again by two thirds of the Senate and House, according to the rules and limitations arranged in the case of a bill.

If both the Senate and the House pass the bill, it is then sent to the president for his signature leading to the bill becoming a law (United States Senate, n.d.).

All of the laws in the United States begin as a bill, which must be approved by the Senate, House of Representatives, and the President. The bill stars as an idea from a representative or a citizen who has an idea and tells their representative about the idea. The representative then decides if the idea is

Congress must always sponsor this bill before it is introduced to the House or Senate. Several drafts may even be composed by Congress, citizens of society, lobbyists, and coalitions. Primarily though, the President is the main source when it comes down to proposing one. The four forms of congressional action process as bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions and simple resolutions. The introduction of a bill is the first step in the federal process is the referral to a standing committee where they have the power to delay, block or expedite

For a bill to become a law it takes more than one step and more than one person deciding, it's not as easy as it seems. First, the legislation is introduced, and then you have the committee action, afterwards floor action, conference committee, the president, and then the bill becomes a law. Some bills will never make it through any of these processes but for those who really want their bill to pass, if they fight for it they just might get lucky. This paper will show you that it takes more than one person and is a long process. Through out this paper I will explain how a bill becomes a law so that you will have a better understanding of the process.

All things first start with an idea. This idea, then becomes an action and this action in turn has a result. This same concept can be applied to the legislative process. The first step begins with an idea, this idea is shared and if it gains the support of the masses this idea will then become sponsored by a representative. Once this idea has sponsorship it then proceeds to the congressional level where this idea gets the new title of a bill. Upon the name change from idea to bill also comes the benefit of becoming a proposed piece of legislation. For a bill this means that it will be sent to both the House of Representatives and Senate awaiting it’s future through debate. If the debate proves favorable for the bill, that is both the House of Representatives and the Senate approve then this bill is sent off to the desk of the president. From the moment the bill arrives at the desk of the president a countdown of ten days begins, this is

To start the process of a bill becoming law, the bill must be introduced. Any one member of Congress can introduce a bill or any other type of legislation, they are called the sponsors. Also, any member of the same body, either the House or Senate, can add their name the day after a bill has been introduced; in turn they are cosponsors (naeyc). Once a bill has been introduced, it must be referred to a committee with jurisdiction over the primary issue of legislation (naeyc). Bills can be referred to several different committees and subcommittees. Soon after there is a determination on whether there will be a hearing. There are sometimes mark ups where members of the committee meet to offer amendments and changes to the introduced bill (naeyc).

The president and Congress each propose and approve many laws each year. Every law begins as a bill and must be introduced in either the House or the Senate. Once the bill is introduced in one of the chambers it must follow several steps. According to our textbook, it must be referred to the committee and the subcommittees where it can be reviewed. It is then studied, discussed, and has hearings and possible re-writes. When it is finished at the chamber it is then ready for debate. A conference committee is then formed to write a compromise bill if provisions are necessary. The provisions must be approved by both the chambers. Then the final step is sending it to the president where it can be approved and signed or veto.

When it comes to the branches of government, the legislative, executive and judicial branches all work together to ensure that the United States is running smoothly. Each branch has its own responsibilities. The legislative branch is made up of the Senate and the House of Representative, or what we commonly call Congress. The most important responsibility that they have is to make the laws that citizens are to follow. The introduction of a bill to Congress, which can be written by anyone, is the first step in the legislative process. Once it is introduced, it is reviewed by the appropriate committee where it is possibly amended or rejected. This is who handles the statutes. They are written by the legislative branch. However, they do require