(IntegrityMag.com) – As Americans, we all are supposed to follow the laws of our community and country. However, many people don’t have any idea as to how a law actually becomes law. Perhaps people simply don’t care, but they should as this process dictates what we’re able and not able to do legally.
Every Law Was Once a Just an Idea
The creation of laws is the US House of Representatives’ most important task. However, every law begins its journey as simply an idea. It could come from a House member, or even just a citizen. In order for citizens to help make laws, they need to contact their Representatives, who will write the ideas into bills if they like them.
The Bill’s Journey Begins
Once a bill is written by a Representative, they need to find support, or sponsors, of the bill before it can go any further into the process. The Representative will talk to other members of the House to gain support. Once enough support is gained for a bill, it then moves onto being introduced in the House.
A Bill’s Introduction
Bills can only be introduced by members of the House of Representatives and are formally introduced when placed in a drop box next to the clerk’s desk. From here, each bill will receive a number assigned by a bill clerk beginning with H.R. After the number is assigned the bill is then read by a reading clerk presenting the bill to all Representatives. The Speaker of the House then sends the bill to one of the House standing committees.
The Committee
Once a bill reaches the committee, members that are composed of experts of agriculture, education, international relations, energy and other areas review and research the bill, eventually revising it.
From there, the bill will be voted on as to whether or not it is presented to the House floor. If the committee decides it needs more information on the bill, it will be sent to a subcommittee, where it will be examined and reviewed in detail by experts before being sent back to the committee.
The Bill’s House Visit
Once the committee has decided the bill is approved, it is reported to the House, who will then hold a debate over the bill. In the debate, each Representative will explain as to why they agree or disagree with the bill.
After the debate a clerk reads the bill to the members of the House, section by section, and the Representatives will recommend changes. After any changes have been made, the bill is then ready for a vote.
House Vote
In the US House of Representatives, there are three ways a bill can be voted on. The first is simply a “yea” or “nay” vote; those who agree with the bill say “yea” and those who do not say “nay.”
The second method of voting in the House is known as a division vote, where those who support the bill are asked to stand and are then counted. After they’re counted those who oppose the bill will be asked to stand up for their count.
The third voting method is to vote electronically. Representatives can vote “yea,” “nay,” or “present” if they do not want to vote on the bill.
After the House has voted via one of the listed methods, if the bill is passed by the majority voting in favor of the bill, it will move onto the US Senate, where its fate will further be decided.
The US Senate
Once the Senate has received the bill, it will go through all of the same processes it went through with the House. However, voting on the Senate floor can only be done via voice, or the “yea” and “nay” method in which each Senator must say their vote.
If the bill isn’t passed by the Senate, it goes back to the House to be revised. If a bill does gain Senate approval, it will then move on to the President of the United States.
Presidential Power
When a bill comes to the US President, they have three choices they can make. The first being to simply pass the bill, signing it into law. The second option is to refuse, or veto, the bill. When this happens the bill is sent back to the House along with the reason for the President’s veto.
However, should the Senate and House believe the bill should be passed into law, they can hold another vote. If two-thirds or more vote in favor of the bill, the bill will become law without presidential approval.
The President’s third and final option is to simply do nothing. In this instance, if Congress is in session, the bill will automatically become law after 10 days; should Congress not be in session, the bill will not become law.
After its long journey from an idea to the Presidential desk, if the bill is passed and signed into law, or the president’s veto is overridden by the House and Senate, the bill will become law. Once the bill is law, the government will then enforce the laws accordingly.
This is how an idea turns into a bill and eventually a law enforced by the government and its agencies.
Copyright 2021, IntegrityMag.com
