Legislative Flow Chart

What is it?

Once a bill gets drafted it has to be introduced. If a senator is the sponsor then it get's represented in the senate. If a Representative is the sponsor then it gets represented in the House of Representatives.The House clerk assigns a legislative number for bills introduced in the House of Representatives and the Senate clerk assigns a legislative number for bills introduced in the Senate

Example & Why it's important

Example & Why It's Important

What is it?

When a bill is introduced to the chamber of congress it is referred to different committees called subcommittees.After being referred the committees then hold public hearings to receive advice from experts and the affected group of people concerning the bill.Using this Committee member can make changes, amendments, and revisions to the bill to make it better.

Source:https://indivisible.org/resource/legislative-process-101-%E2%80%93-house-representatives-committee-action

Example & Why it's important

Example:In 1973 the house of representatives committee on the judiciary passed the bill that prohibited persons attempting to collect their own debts or aiding in the collection of private debts from misusing names, initials, emblems, or insignias in order to convey the false impression that any agency of the Federal Government is involved in such collection.

Example & Why it's important

This step is important because without an approval of a committee the bill can't move on to the next step.It's also important for the committee to make changes and add amendments to the bill so that it makes it better and gives it more of a chance to get passed.

Source:https://www.congress.gov/bill/93rd-congress/house-bill/689?r=689&s=6

What is it?

In the debate and amending process in the house of representatives members are given an opportunity to change the provisions of the bills and resolutions on which they are going to vote.

Source:https://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/9e323ab8-bb9b-467c-bda5-0e0bd49a2c19.pdf

Example and Why it's important

Example & Why it's important

Example: On May 21st 2019 The house of representatives amended (by voice vote) the bill that stated that "The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan to provide Vet Center services to veterans living in geographic areas where no Vet Center is located, including in the United States insular areas."

This step is important because in order for the bill to get passed to the senate it has to pass a simple majority vote based on the amendment or debate.

Source:https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1812/all-actions?s=6&r=66

What is it?

A bill is supposed to have three different readings.The first reading takes place in the house of origin(senate or house of representatives). The second reading is when the bills gets debated and amended on. If the bill does get emended,it is reprinted in it's final engrossed form for passage.In the third reading, the bill title is again printed in the Calendar and when called up for consideration, a recorded vote is taken on the passage of the bill.

Source:https://sgr.virginia.edu/legislative-budget-process#:~:text=On%20second%20reading%2C%20a%20bill,(engrossed)%20form%20for%20passage.

Example & Why it's important

Example:On July 31st 2020 the bill that stated "his bill provides federal support to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) in child care provider settings during the period of community spread of the virus" was amended and laid on the table with no objections.

Example & Why it's important

This step is important because the readings are deciding factor on weather the bill moves on to the senate or it dies.

What is it?

The senate's committee is similar to the ones of the house of representatives.The senate divides the work between different committees such as standing committees, special or select committees, and joint committees. Then those are divided into the subcommittees.Only a small amount of the bill that are given to the senate are considered.

Source:https://www.senate.gov/general/Features/Committees.htm

Example & Why it's important

Example:On September 16th 2020 the bill that stated"This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to specified educational agencies (e.g., local educational agencies) to develop or implement plans to improve diversity and reduce or eliminate racial or socioeconomic isolation in publicly funded early childhood education programs, public elementary schools, or public secondary schools."was received in the senate and passed to the committee of health,education,labor and pensions.

Example & why it's important

This step is important because Senate committees monitor on-going governmental operations, identify issues suitable for legislative review, gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to the Senate.It is an important factor for the bill to pass the full senate.

What is it?

A bill can be amended as soon as the senate looks at it. The committees amendments are considered first then senate can amend any part of it."Senators may debate each amendment without limit unless the Senate (1)

agrees to a motion to table (kill) the amendment, (2) agrees to a unanimous consent request to

limit debate on the amendment, or (3) invokes cloture, limiting debate on the amendment or on

the bill and all amendments to it."

What is it?

Source:https://www.senate.gov/CRSpubs/738b4c8d-66ee-4c11-9b6a-176194c4456a.pdf

Example & why it's important

Example:On September 17th 2020 a bill that stated "This bill designates the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 207 Stratton Road, St. Augustine, Florida, as the "Leo C. Chase Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic." was debate and amended by the senate.It passed senate with an amendment by unanimous consent.

Example & why it's important

This step is important because the debates an amending are reflecting the rights that are being used and passed by the senate.

What is it?

The enrollment is when the final copy of the bill has been passed by both houses in a similar way. It is then printed and signed by the House and senate officials ans submitted to the president.

Example & Why it's important

Example:On August 14th 2020 a bill that stated"to extend lease protections for service members under stop movement orders in response to a local, national, or global emergency, and for other purposes." was passed by both houses and enrolled. It was then sen to the president for his decision.

Example & Why it's important

This step is important because the enrolled bill is the "final" statement in which the president receives. Now it's the presidents decision whether it becomes law or not.

Source:https://www.house.gov/the-house-explained/the-legislative-process

What is it?

A conference committee is an optional panel made of people from the senate and house of representatives. It is formed to clear out differences in the bill that has passed both chambers.These committees are optional and it is only used to resolve controversial and bicameral differences.

What is it?

Source:https://www.senate.gov/reference/glossary_term/conference_committee.htm

Why it's important

The conference committees can be important because it can resolve major problems in the legislation. It doesn't happen all the time so when it does happen this can be used so that the bill can move on the next step.

*Example couldn't be found for this step.

What is it?

Once the president signs the bill the officer of federal register gives the public law a number and the government prints a copy of it.

What is it?

Source:https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/728-how-a-bill-becomes-a-law

Example & Why it's important

Example & why it's important

Example: On August 14th 2020 a bill that stated"This bill establishes the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys within the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Office of the Staff Director to conduct a systematic study of the conditions affecting Black men and boys." became public law (#116-156)

This step is important because this is what officially declares the bill as a public law.

Source:https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/728-how-a-bill-becomes-a-law

What is it?

The final approval is when the bill is approved by both houses and sent to the president for his/her decision. If the president approves it becomes public law. If the president veto's it then it is returned to congress for reconsideration. If the president doesn't act within those ten days it automatically becomes law.

What is it?

Source:https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/728-how-a-bill-becomes-a-law

Example & Why it's important

Example:In August 14th 2020 a bill that stated "The PSOB program provides death, disability, and education benefits to public safety officers and survivors of public safety officers who are killed or injured in the line of duty." was sent to the president who then signed it which gives it permission to become public law.

This step is important because it is the final decision which determines if the bill turns into a public law or not.