How a Bill Becomes a How a Bill Becomes a LawLaw

Step 1: IntroductionStep 1: Introduction

• Introduced by Representatives or Introduced by Representatives or SenatorsSenators

• HR for House, S for SenateHR for House, S for Senate• Which people and the number of Which people and the number of

people sponsoring it are very people sponsoring it are very importantimportant

Step 2: Assignment to Step 2: Assignment to CommitteeCommittee

• Bill is assigned to appropriate Bill is assigned to appropriate committeecommittee

• The committee must approve the The committee must approve the bill before it is placed on the bill before it is placed on the agenda for discussion by the full agenda for discussion by the full chamberchamber

• 90% of legislation dies during this 90% of legislation dies during this stepstep

Step 3: The House Rules Step 3: The House Rules CommitteeCommittee

• Only in the House of Only in the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives

• Made up of the more senior Made up of the more senior members of each partymembers of each party

• They must propose a special rule They must propose a special rule by which the bill will be discussed, by which the bill will be discussed, otherwise it diesotherwise it dies

Step 4: Discussion and Vote Step 4: Discussion and Vote by the Full Chamberby the Full Chamber

• In the House, a bill can be In the House, a bill can be discussed by either open rule or discussed by either open rule or closed ruleclosed rule

• Senate is much more flexibleSenate is much more flexible• Bills can be amended hereBills can be amended here• A majority vote passes the bill to A majority vote passes the bill to

the other chamberthe other chamber

Step 5: Discussion and Vote Step 5: Discussion and Vote by the Other Chamberby the Other Chamber

• The same steps take place here The same steps take place here beginning with the committeebeginning with the committee

• After amendment are made, the After amendment are made, the bill must be approved by the bill must be approved by the majority in order to move onmajority in order to move on

Step 6: The Conference Step 6: The Conference CommitteeCommittee

• Most of the time, a bill passed in the Most of the time, a bill passed in the House is slightly different than the House is slightly different than the version passed in the Senateversion passed in the Senate

• The conference committee is made of The conference committee is made of members from the House and Senatemembers from the House and Senate

• They come to a compromise between They come to a compromise between the two different versionsthe two different versions

Step 7: Final Passage by Step 7: Final Passage by Both ChambersBoth Chambers

• The conference committee sends a The conference committee sends a conference report to both conference report to both chambers of Congresschambers of Congress

• Once it is accepted by a majority Once it is accepted by a majority vote in both chambers, the bill is in vote in both chambers, the bill is in its final formits final form

Step 8: Presidential Step 8: Presidential ApprovalApproval

• President can approve it, veto it, or do President can approve it, veto it, or do nothingnothing

• If Congress is in session, doing nothing If Congress is in session, doing nothing would approve the bill by defaultwould approve the bill by default

• If Congress is not in session and the If Congress is not in session and the President takes no action, the bill is President takes no action, the bill is defeated by default (pocket veto)defeated by default (pocket veto)

Step 9: Possible Veto Step 9: Possible Veto OverrideOverride

• If vetoed, a 2/3 vote by each If vetoed, a 2/3 vote by each chamber of Congress can override chamber of Congress can override the vetothe veto

• This is very difficult to achieve and This is very difficult to achieve and does not occur oftendoes not occur often