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How A Bill Becomes A Law Infographic
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How A Bill Becomes A Law Infographic
By: Mulu Bannister
Introduction
A bill can start in ether house of Congress when it's introduced by its primary sponsor, a Senator or a Representative. In the House of Representatives, Bills are placed in a wooden box called "the hopper."
Introduction
When a bill reaches a committee it is placed on the committee’s calendar. A bill can be
referred to a subcommittee or considered by the committee as a whole. It is at this
point that a bill is examined carefully and its chances of passage are determined. If the
committee does not act on a bill, it is the equivalent of killing it. Committee heads have
broad authority to determine a committee’s agenda and whether or not a bill is addressed.
Committee Acton
The bill is returned to the full House or Senate for further debate and approval. At this point members may propose amendments to the bill, add additional text, or otherwise alter the bill.
Floor Action
Members from each house form a conference committee and meet to work out the differences. The committee is usually made up of senior members who are appointed by the presiding officers of the committee that originally dealt with the bill. The representatives from each house work to maintain their version of the bill.
If the Conference Committee reaches a compromise, it prepares a written conference report, which is submitted to each chamber.
The conference report must be approved by both the House and the Senate.
Conference Action
If a bill has passed in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and has been approved by the President, or if a presidential veto has been overridden, the bill becomes a law and is enforced by the government.