How a bill becomes a law.
1. Bill is Drafted- Members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and even outside groups can draft (write or draw up) bills
2. Introduced into House- Representative introduces bill into the House. Only members can introduce bills
3. Sent to committee- The Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee
4. Committee action- Most bills die here. The committee may pigeonhole, table, amend, or vote on the bill. If the bill passes, it goes to rules committee
5. Rules Committee- It decides the rules for debate, and when the bill will come up for debate
6. Floor Action- House debates the bill, and may add amendments. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it goes to the senate
7. Introduced into Senate- A senator introduces the bill, which is sent to a committee
8. Committee Action- Same procedure as in the House. If the committee majority votes for the bill, it goes to the whole Senate
9. Bill Called Up- Majority floor leader decides when the whole Senate will consider the bill
10. Floor Action- The bill is debated, and amendments may be added. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it is returned to the House
11. Conference Committee- If the house rejects any of the changes, the bill goes to a conference committee of members from both houses. It works out a compromise.
12. Vote on Compromise- Both houses must approve changes made by the conference committee. If approved, the bill goes to the president
13. Presidential Action- The president may sign (approve) the bill or veto (reject) it. If approved, it becomes a law
14. Vote to override- If the president vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of both houses vote to override the veto
2. Introduced into House- Representative introduces bill into the House. Only members can introduce bills
3. Sent to committee- The Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee
4. Committee action- Most bills die here. The committee may pigeonhole, table, amend, or vote on the bill. If the bill passes, it goes to rules committee
5. Rules Committee- It decides the rules for debate, and when the bill will come up for debate
6. Floor Action- House debates the bill, and may add amendments. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it goes to the senate
7. Introduced into Senate- A senator introduces the bill, which is sent to a committee
8. Committee Action- Same procedure as in the House. If the committee majority votes for the bill, it goes to the whole Senate
9. Bill Called Up- Majority floor leader decides when the whole Senate will consider the bill
10. Floor Action- The bill is debated, and amendments may be added. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it is returned to the House
11. Conference Committee- If the house rejects any of the changes, the bill goes to a conference committee of members from both houses. It works out a compromise.
12. Vote on Compromise- Both houses must approve changes made by the conference committee. If approved, the bill goes to the president
13. Presidential Action- The president may sign (approve) the bill or veto (reject) it. If approved, it becomes a law
14. Vote to override- If the president vetoes the bill, it can still become a law if two-thirds of both houses vote to override the veto