How A Bill Becomes a Law

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How A Bill Becomes a Law
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Step 1

• Every Bill starts out as an idea
• These ideas can come from Congress, private
  citizens or from the White House
• Special Interest Groups may also try to influence
  Congress to write a Bill

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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

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Step 3

• After it is introduced, each Bill is then sent to
  the standing committee that seems most qualified
  to handle it.

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Step 4

• Committees receive hundreds of Bills and 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)

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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

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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

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Step 7

• When members of Congress are ready to vote they
  may do so by
• Voice Vote
• Standing Vote
• Roll-call or todays 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

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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
• 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

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The End