The Legislative Process

Source: http://www.capwiz.com/nrlc/issues/basics/?style=legis

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Introduction
Step 1. Referral to Committee
Step 2. Committee Action
Step 3. Subcommittee Review
Step 4. Mark Up
Step 5. Committee Action to Report A Bill
Step 6. Publication of a Written Report
Step 7. Scheduling Floor Action
Step 8. Debate
Step 9. Voting
Step 10. Referral to Other Chamber
Step 11. Conference Committee Action
Step 12. Final Actions
Step 13. Overriding a Veto

Introduction

Anyone may draft a bill; however, only members of Congress may introduce legislation, and by doing so, become the sponsor(s). There are four basic types of legislation: bills, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions. The official legislative process begins when a bill or resolution is numbered (H.R. signifies a House bill; S., a Senate bill ), referred to a committee, and printed by the Government Printing Office.    Back to menu

Step 1. Referral to Committee

With few exceptions, bills are referred to standing committees in the House or Senate according to carefully delineated rules of procedure.    Back to menu

Step 2. Committee Action

When a bill reaches a committee, it is placed on the committee's calendar. A bill can be referred to a subcommittee or considered by the committee as a whole. It is at this point that a bill is examined carefully and its chances for passage are determined. If the committee does not act on a bill, it is the equivalent of killing it.    Back to menu

Step 3. Subcommittee Review

Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee for study and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to put on the record the views of the executive branch, other public officials, experts, supporters, and opponents of the legislation. Testimony may be submitted in person or in written statement.    Back to menu

Step 4. Mark Up

When the hearings are completed, the subcommittee may meet to "mark up" the bill; that is, make changes and amendments prior to recommending the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report legislation to the full committee, the bill dies.    Back to menu

Step 5. Committee Action to Report A Bill

After receiving a subcommittee's report on a bill, the full committee can conduct further study and hearings, or it can vote on the subcommittee's recommendations and any proposed amendments. The full committee then votes on its recommendation to the House or Senate. This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported."    Back to menu

Step 6. Publication of a Written Report

After a committee votes to have a bill reported, the committee chairman instructs staff to prepare a written report on the bill. This report describes the intent and scope of the legislation, its impact on existing laws and programs, the position of the executive branch, and views of dissenting members of the committee.    Back to menu

Step 7. Scheduling Floor Action

After a bill is reported back to the chamber where it originated, it is placed on the calendar. In the House, there are several different legislative calendars, and the Speaker and the Majority Leader largely determine if, when, and in what order bills come up. In the Senate, there is only one legislative calendar.    Back to menu

Step 8. Debate

When a bill reaches the floor of the House or Senate, rules of procedure govern the debate on legislation. These rules determine the conditions and amount of time allocated for general debate.    Back to menu

Step 9. Voting

After the debate and the approval of any amendments, the bill is passed or defeated by the members voting.    Back to menu

Step 10. Referral to Other Chamber

When a bill is passed by the House or the Senate, it is referred to the other chamber, where it usually follows the same route through committee and floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.    Back to menu

Step 11. Conference Committee Action

If the other chamber makes only minor changes to a bill, the legislation commonly goes back to the first chamber for concurrence. However, when the other chamber significantly alters a bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is reached, a conference report describing the committee members' recommendations for changes is prepared. Both the House and the Senate must approve the conference report.    Back to menu

Step 12. Final Actions

After a bill has been approved, in identical form, by both the House and the Senate, it is sent to the President. If the President approves of the legislation, he or she signs it, and it becomes law. Or, while Congress is in session, the President can take no action for ten days, and the bill automatically becomes law. If the President opposes the bill, he or she can veto it, or if he or she takes no action after the Congress has adjourned its second session, it is a "pocket veto," and the legislation dies.    Back to menu

Step 13. Overriding a Veto

If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may attempt to "override the veto." This requires a two-thirds roll-call vote of the members who are present in sufficient numbers for a quorum.    Back to menu

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