Bill to Law: Steps of the Legislative Process
STEP 1:
IDEA FORMS AND LAW IS WRITTEN
1
- A representative notices a problem and comes up with a solution
*Citizens can also take on this role by contacting their district’s representatives and advocating for change
IDEA FORMS & LAW IS WRITTEN
STEP 2:
BILL IS PROPOSED AND INTRODUCED
2
- The representative who wrote the bill works with other members of the House to find at least one sponsor for the bill
- Written bill is placed in a wooden box called the “hopper”
PROPOSED & INTRODUCED
STEP 3:
SENT TO COMMITEE
3
"COMMITEE"
- The Speaker of the House sends the bill to the relevant standing committee
- The commitee reviews, researches and amends (changes) the bill
- The committee approves the bill and sends — or reports — it to the House floor
Groups of Representatives who are experts on topics such as agriculture, education, or international relations
SENT TO COMMITEE
STEP 4:
HOUSE DEBATE & VOTE
4
The House of Representatives has 435 total members
- Members of the House explain why they either agree or disagree with the bill and propose changes (amendments) to it
- Whole House chamber votes
- If a majority of members vote yes, it passes the House and is sent to the Senate
"House majority" = 218 members
DEBATE & VOTE
STEP 5:
SENT TO SENATE
5
- Bill goes through the same process as it did in the House
- If a majority of senators (51 or more) vote yes, it passes the Senate and is sent to the White House
1. Assigned to committee
2. Discussed by committee
3. Sent back to whole chamber for vote
SENT TO SENATE
STEP 6: SENT TO PRESIDENT
- If the president approves of the bill, they sign it and it becomes law
- They could also refuse to sign the bill and send it back to Congress
SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW!
(C) proposed & introduced
CLASS ACTIVITY
(E) idea forms & law is written