Preview

how bill becomes law

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
519 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
how bill becomes law
In order to ensure the vitality of the fundamental constitutional principle of separation of powers, the Framers gave the President what Madison in Federalist No. 47 called a “partial agency” in the legislative process. The President can propose measures to Congress (Article II, Section 7, Clause 2) and either approve or veto bills passed by Congress. It is worth noting that the executive veto is not a fiat—the President must return the vetoed bill to Congress “with his Objections” so that Congress may reconsider the bill in light of these objections. The Presentment Clause serves not only to delineate the President’s role in the legislative process; its detailed stipulations also make clear that Congress may not bypass them, for example, by delegating its legislative powers to administrative agencies (see Constitutional Guidance for Lawmakers No. 1 on Article I, Section 1: “Legislative Powers: Not Yours to Give Away ”). The Constitution insists that laws must be approved by both houses and the President. Administrative regulations circumvent both. This essay is adapted from The Heritage Guide to the Constitution for a new series providing constitutional guidance for lawmakers. And that's how a bill becomes a law. The hopper on the clerks desk is there for bills and what not also. How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. A member of Congress introduces a bill.
When a senator or representative introduces a bill, it is sent to the clerk of the Senate or House, who gives it a number and title. Next, the bill goes to the appropriate committee.

2. Committees review and vote on the bill.
Committees specialize in different areas, such as foreign relations or agriculture, and are made up of small groups of senators or representatives.

The committee may reject the bill and “table” it, meaning it is never discussed again. Or it may hold hearings to listen to facts and opinions, make changes in the bill and cast votes. If most committee members vote in favor of the bill, it is

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    *This branch consists of Congress, which is made up of the Senate and House Representatives.…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Tax Research Chapter 3

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Every bill that is passed by Congress is assigned a public law number. Thus, Committee Reports generally are referred to by public law number. In the example, P.L. 100-203 translates to Congress passing this public law as the two-hundred and third bill in the one-hundredth session of Congress.…

    • 355 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    -if senate legislative committee approves a bill, that bill is sent to the senate majority leader and minority leader who negotiate a unanimous consent agreement to determine length of debate of a bill on the senate floor and how many amendments can be offered…

    • 935 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    However, Congress was deliberately faced with a difficult legislative process. First bills are read to Congress, more as just a formality, as no vote or debate takes place. Then they are passed onto the Committees, which is the most important stage and where as Professor Vile stated, “bills go to die.” They can become de-prioritized and pigeonholed for a later date. They are then passed to a timetabling session where it is decided…

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The way that committees fit into the lawmaking process is by basically looking/examining the bill that was brought to them. Then the committee reviews the particular bill and decides if it’s fit for approval. Another reason is that committees are the most qualified to approve or disapprove a bill this is why lawmakers send the bills to committees because a bill that is approved by them has a way better chance of going to the House or Senate (Oleszek, Walter).…

    • 477 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are 430 people who work extremely hard to make the laws that people follow each day. There are three different branches in the government the legislative, executive and judicial to make sure one branch did not get too much power many years ago checks and balances. “With checks and balances, each of the three branches of government can limit the powers of the others. This way, no one branch becomes too powerful.” (Fact monster link) Checks balances give specific things each branch can and cannot do this is so no branch can take control over the other branches or their own. Each branch can override the others, but the other branches have the same power, this is what makes sure that no branch gains too much power. Everyday people live by laws it's important to understand how these laws were the ones just an idea, and how they have developed by how you live. The process of checks and balances exemplifies how a bill becomes a bill is an essential part of the US government because it protects citizen's rights and prevents a tyranny from forming.…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Elizabethan Government

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The House of Representatives has many jobs such as electing the President in the case of a tie (The Legislative Branch). "The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent, and to ratify treaties (The Legislative Branch)." The first step of a bill becoming a law is the introduction to Congress. Congress is the only part of the US government that can make or change laws. For a bill to be passed it must be accepted by the Legislative branch and the president. The House of Representatives can "fire" any elected official (The Legislative…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    According to David Mayhew, author of Congress: The Electoral Connection, Congress has many different functions that it performs including: “ . . .legislating, overseeing the executive, expressing public opinion, and servicing constituents” (Mayhew 2004, 8). While all these are important to the role Congress plays, the most important ability is the authority to create laws. Congress derives its power to perform its functions and to create laws, from Article I of the Constitution. Although Article I may be oft overlooked, the authority given to Congress from it is critically important to understanding legislative politics. Without structures and rules, Congress would be unable to make laws, would have little authority and could not function properly as a check to the other branches of government.…

    • 2492 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    When it comes to passing legislation, both chambers of Congress must pass the bill with a majority vote. The President then has the option to sign the bill…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The modern committee structure stems from the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, the first and most ambitious restructuring of the standing committee system since the committee system was first developed. A congressional committee is a legislative sub-organization in the United States Congress that handles a specific duty. Congress divides its legislative, oversight, and internal administrative tasks among approximately 200 committees and subcommittees. Specifically, there are 20 committees, 68 subcommittees, and 4 joint committees.…

    • 559 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Laws are made in order to govern behavior in society. There are many types of laws including civil law, administrative law, criminal law, constitutional law, and international law. In order for these laws to be put into action, there is a process that must be followed. Laws start out as a bill. Anyone can draft a bill such as parties, interests groups, or presidents; and it is up to Congress to act favorably in order for the bill to become a law. According to Article I, Section 7 in the U.S. Constitution, “Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States” (Turner 580). In guiding a bill…

    • 1883 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    How State Laws Are Made

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Laws have existed since the biginning of civilization. In the U.S laws are made at different levels, usually connected with a govermental entity. Cities, counties and federal goverment all make laws. State laws are created by a states governing body. Bills that will be intorduced to be passed into law begin with an idea or recommendation given a number and carries the name os the lawmaker who filed the legislation.Every bill is assigned to a comitee taht oversees the area of law to which the bill refers. The bill must be read and passed out of commitee before it is sent to the House Of Representatives . House of represnatives are made up of people elected from each state based on population. For example california has the most because California is a bigger state. Thisis based soley on population. A commitee can ask to hear a testimony from agencies or individuals with a stake in legislation. Usually the lawmaker ho filed the bill will adress the committee about merits of the proposed law.A bill can be changed or "marked up" before it leaves committee. Depending on wether the bill was filed by a senator or House member-where bill orignated- the legislative body must accept the commitee report before the bill is read. The bill must then be placed on the offivila calendar for first readingof a vote of a legislative body. If the body votes aye, the bill is placed on the daily calendar. for its second reading. After the second reading a bill can be debated and amended on the floor. Any lawmaker can add an amendment to a bill. Most states have requirments that the amendment must pertain to the orginal intent of the proposed…

    • 718 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    This check on the legislative branch check prevents Congress from passing any law they wish to create and effectively limits their abilities while also prolonging the lawmaking process. However, if the president vetoes the bill, the House of Representatives and the Senate can still make the bill a law, providing that two thirds of each House approve of the law. Effectively, the president doesn't have absolute power over the laws that are passed either, which stops him from gaining too much power and control over the legislative process. Clearly, the legislative process is equipped with many checks that ensure one branch does not become too powerful; and as a result of those checks, the process is very long so that laws cannot be passed very…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays
    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Have you ever had the urge to want to change someone’s perspective? Did you ever think you could make a difference? Were you aware that even students between the ages of eleven to twenty create bills that can become laws? According to the 2012 Youth in Government Student Manuel, more than 100 current West Virginia laws were first considered in the Youth in Government (YG) program. So, how are bills created?…

    • 472 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays