How a Bill Becomes a Law
BY: Austin Kappes and Mark Brooks
How a bill becomes a law
A bill is an idea it can come from anyone only a State Representative or Senator make it a law. Introduction of a bill can be made by any member of the House or Senate, and more than one legislator generally sponsors a bill. A bill is given to the Chief Clerk of the House or the Secretary of the Senate and is assigned a number. If the bill is sponsored by a Senator, it is a Senate Bill. ideas which start in the House are House Bills. The Senate President or Speaker of the House then assigns the bill to a committee. A committee's responsibility is to examine a bill carefully, They can "Table" the bill, which means it is dead unless the full body orders the committee to send the bill to the floor. In some cases, if a committee cannot get enough votes to pass, a measure may be sent to the floor without recommendation. In that case, the full body must vote whether they want to place the bill on the agenda for consideration. Once a bill reaches the floor, it is debated and voted on. If it passes, the bill is forwarded on to the other body, where it goes through the same steps. If a bill passes both the House and Senate, it is sent to the Governor. If he signs it, the bill becomes law. If the Legislature votes to override the veto, the bill becomes law.