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How a Bill Becomes a Law Flowchart
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How a Bill Becomes a Law
Idea
A bill starts off as an idea, whether it is thought of within Congress or suggested by a citizen.
Fail
However, the bill could fail here if no one in Congress finds the idea interesting enough to make it into a bill.
Bill
An idea becomes a bill when Congress finds enough interest in the idea to try to make it a law. At this point, it must gain support from Congress to continue on.
Fail
The bill can fail here due to a lack of support from Congress.
Fail
Introduction to the House of Representatives
At this point, the bill is introduced to the House of Representatives and they decide whether the bill goes further along or not.
Fail
The bill can fail here if the House of Representatives believes the bill should not go any further.
Fail
Committee
The bill is taken to the appropriate committee, where they debate on and revise the bill.
Subcommittee
Subcommittees will revise the bill further or gain the opinions of experts. Then, the bill is either tabled or sent back to the committee.
Fail
The bill can fail due to the Committee or the subcommittee. Either one can vote the bill out, or "table" the bill.
Report to House Floor
The bill is released from the committee and sent to the House floor to be considered. Members of the House floor debate the bill, where it may be revised.
House of Representatives Vote
The House of Representatives then vote on the law in one of three ways: Viva Voce (Voice Vote)
Recorded
Division
Viva Voce
Viva Voce, or Voice Vote, is a voting system in which members vote by saying "Yea" or "Nay."
Viva Voce
Division
Division voting is based on a show of hands, similar to most votes that take place among smaller groups of people.
Recorded
Recorded voting, or electronic voting, is performed by each member pushing one of three buttons: "Yea," "Nay," or "Present."
Fail
Here, the bill can be voted against if the majority of the House votes "Nay."
Fail
Senate
Senate Votes
The bill is then sent to the Senate, who votes on the bill. Usually, the Senate uses some non-electric method of voting. From here, the bill can be changed. If the bill is changed, it goes to a Conference Committee for review.
Fail
Here, the bill can fail if the Senate votes for the bill to do so.
Fail
President
Here, the bill is sent to the White House for the President to decide on. From here, the president can either veto the bill or pass the bill as a law.
Veto
The President can veto a bill, which means that the President does not want the bill to be a law. However, the veto can be countered by Congress with a two-thirds vote. If two-thirds of Congress votes for the bill to become a law after the President vetoes it, it becomes a law anyway.
Law
Now, the bill has become a law and will be enforced and judged upon by police forces and the Judicial Branch.