Steps to How a Bill is Made
By: Annashaye Stiles
How Does a Bill Become a Law in the US Congress?
Step Two
Bill introduced to Congress
- All Tax bills start in the House because they are closer to the people
Step Three
Bill given a title and number
Step Four
Sent to a Standing Committee
- Pass the Bill
- Mark the Bill with change and suggest it be passed
- Replace the bill with new bill
- Ignore the bill and let it die (known as pigeonholing)
- Kill the bill with majority vote
Step Five
Congressional members where the bill is introduced debate
- Senate may attach riders
- Rules committee determines the terms for debate
- Talking a bill to death is called Filibuster
- Can end if 3/5 of members vote for cloture
- No one may speak for more than an hour
Step One
Someone gets an Idea!
Step Six
Voting in Congress
- House and Senate must pass the same bill (if not, they compromise on joint committee)
- Voice vote
- Standing Vote
- Roll Call Vote
Step Seven
President
- Veto
- Can be overrode with 2/3 vote from both houses of Congress
- Do nothing for 10 days
- If Congress is in session, it becomes a law
- If Congress is not in session, it dies (called pocket veto
- Sign the bill into law