How a Bill Becomes a Law

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Step 1: Introduction • Write It (“Draft”) • Introduce in House and Senate • Sponsors / Co-sponsors • Referral to Committees

Step 2: Committee Action • Written Comment • Hearings • Mark-Up • Reports

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

Step 3: Floor ActionPart B: The Senate • No limit on debate or on amendments • Fillibuster • Cloture vote • Vote

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

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

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”

How a Bill Becomes a Law