How a Bill Becomes a Law

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How a Bill Becomes a Law
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Step 1 Introduction

• Write It (Draft)
• Introduce in House and Senate
• Sponsors / Co-sponsors
• Referral to Committees

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Step 2 Committee Action

• Written Comment
• Hearings
• Mark-Up
• Reports

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Step 3 Floor ActionPart A The House

• Stop at the Rules Committee
• How much debate?
• Open or closed rule
• Debate on House Floor
• Quorum call 218 members
• Vote

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Step 3 Floor ActionPart B The Senate

• No limit on debate or on amendments
• Fillibuster
• Cloture vote
• Vote

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Step 4 Combined Action

• Several options
• Only one chamber has voted on the bill
• Now must be sent to other chamber
• If other chamber amends or changes the
  legislation, we must convene a conference
  committee (see below)
• House or Senate vote on same version of bill
• We can go straight to the President
• House and Senate have different versions of the
  bill
• Convene a conference committee to reach
  compromise
• Compromise bill must be sent back to House and
  Senate for approval

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Step 5 Presidential Action

• President signs the bill
• It becomes law
• President vetoes the bill
• Either Congress overrides veto (by 2/3 in both
  chambers)
• Or bill dies

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Step 5 Presidential Action

• What if the President does nothing?
• If 10 days pass, and Congress is still in
  session, the bill automatically becomes a law
• If Congress adjourns before the 10 days expire,
  the bill dies Pocket Veto