How A Bill Becomes a Law

Step 1 Every Bill starts out as an idea Congress, private citizens or from the White House Special Interest Groups may also try to influence Congress to write a Bill

Step 2 Every Bill must start out and be introduced by a Congressman – either a Senator or a House Member Every Bill is given a title and number when it is introduced – H.R.1 or S.1

Step 3 Bill is then sent to the standing committee that seems most qualified to handle it.

Step 4 Committees receive hundreds of Bills They decide the life or death of these bills Those that hold merit are sent to a subcommittee to research (public hearings may be held)

Step 5 The subcommittee will report to the standing committee who will decide if the Bill should Pass without changes Have changes and pass it along Replace the Bill with a alternative one Kill the Bill

Step 6 If a Bill is approved by the committee, then it is ready for consideration by the full House or the Senate. When Bills reach the floor, the members argue their pros and cons The Senate (only) can add riders The Senate also allows filibusters which can only be stopped by a 3/5ths vote for cloture

Step 7 When members of Congress are ready to vote they may do so by Voice Vote Standing Vote Roll-call or today’s Computerized Vote A simple majority Is all that is needed to pass a Bill. If either house refuses to pass it, it dies The Bill must be passed in identical formats in both houses – conference committees may be needed

Step 8 Presidential Action is the final step Veto: refuse to sign Congress can override the veto with a 2/3rds vote in each house – very unlikely 183 Vetoes in 35 years (5 Presisdents) 17 Overriden Sign the Bill into Law Do nothing for 10 days In session – the Bill becomes a Law Out of session – the Bill dies – POCKET VETO

The End