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How a Bill Becomes a LawHow a Bill Becomes a Law

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Study the Bill: Committee Action

There are 19 House standing committees and 16 Senatecommittees.

A committee may simply stop action or "table" a bill, when a

committee decides the bill is unwise or unnecessary.

A committee will meetto markup the proposed bill and may or maynot make changes to it.

Committee members vote to accept orrejectthe changes.

The Thomas Website by the Library of Congress posts the status ofthe bill and receives updates forthe latest major action onthe billtaken by the Committee.

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Recommend by Committee

The committee votes onthe bill after it isdebated and/or amended.

Ifthe bill is approved, it is then sentto the Houseor Senate for consideration.

The Thomas Website by the Library of Congressreceives updates forthe status ofthe bill while inCommittee and posts the latest major action.

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Debate the Bill

Members of Senate or House debate the bill with discussion.

Following debate, the second reading ofthe bill begins in asection-by-section manner, during which amendments may be

offered.

Atthe conclusion of all amendment debate, the bill is putto avote inthe House and is read a third time.

The Thomas Web site by the Library of Congress receives anelectronic copy ofthe debate as it appears intheCongressional Record, prepared by the Clerk ofthe House.The latest major action on a bill is posted onthe ThomasWebsite.

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Vote onthe Bill

Members in attendance will vote to pass ornotto pass the bill.

Most voting inthe House and Senate chambers are done

electronically by Members recordingtheir votes through theElectronic Voting System.

Members may vote "Yea" for approval, "Nay" for disapproval, or"Present."

A Quorum is a simple majority of half plus 1.

The Thomas Website records the results ofthe vote under "BillStatus."

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Referral to Second Chamber

The bill may be sentto a committee for study or markup.

Members may vote to pass ornotto pass the bill.

Ifthe bill passes with amendments, it must be sentto theHouse/Senate conference committee.

Differences must be agreed upon before the bill is sentto thePresident for signature. Atthis pointthe bill is "enrolled."

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Executive Action

The President has 3 options: signthe Bill into Law

Veto its passage

choose notto sign it (pocket veto).

A pocket veto occurs whenthe presidenttakes noaction within 10 days and Congress has adjourned itssession. Inthis case, the bill dies.

The Thomas Website indicates when a bill is senttothe President and whether it becomes law.

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Law is Created

The Bill becomes a Law!

The Thomas Website

indicates legislation

passed into law under

"Public Laws By LawNumber."

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Veto

The Bill returns to the House of origin whereobjections are read and debated.

Ifthe House wishes to override the veto, a vote istaken.

Ifthe House chooses notto vote, the Bill isstalled.

A two-thirds vote orgreater is needed in bothHouses to override the President's veto.

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