How a bill becomes a law | US government and civics | US government and civics | Khan Academy

Legislative Branch Overview

• The United States federal government has two houses in its legislative branch:

  • Senate: 100 members (2 per state)

  • House of Representatives: 435 members (depends on state population)

Bill Introduction

• A bill can be initiated in either the House or the Senate.

• Example of a House Bill:

  • Designation: H.R. (House of Representatives) followed by a number indicating the order of introduction.

  • Purpose: A concise summary describing what the bill aims to amend or accomplish.

  • Introduced by a member of Congress, e.g., Mr. Hastert.

• Example of a Senate Bill:

  • Designation: S. (Senate) followed by a number.

  • The introduction process is similar to the House but can involve different senators depending on the focus of the bill.

Role of Committees

• Committees play a crucial role in the legislative process:

  • Bills introduced are referred to a relevant committee which conducts detailed examination.

  • Majority approval from the committee is usually necessary for a bill to proceed.

• In the House:

  • 20 Standing Committees handle ongoing legislative matters.

  • Select Committees may be created for specific issues.

  • Key Committees:

    • Ways and Means: Focuses on taxation legislation.

    • Budget Committee: Oversees budget proposals and decisions.

    • Appropriations Committee: Decides how to allocate government funding.

    • Rules Committee: Controls the rules and schedule for bills going to the House floor, influencing debate and amendment options.

Senate Committees

• The Senate has 16 Standing Committees and additional committees with various responsibilities:

  • Appropriations Committee: Similar to the House counterpart; handles budget spending.

  • Foreign Relations Committee: Manages foreign treaties and relations.

  • Armed Services Committee: Oversees military-related legislative matters.

• Passage through committees is essential for a bill to reach the Senate floor.

Voting Process

• Once a bill is approved by a committee:

  • In the House: A controlled process by the Rules Committee determines how and if the bill is debated and voted upon.

  • In the Senate: Generally more flexibility due to fewer senators and a collegial environment.

• Post-Committee Approval:

  • A bill that passes in one house must be voted on in the other house.

  • If both houses pass the same bill, it is sent to the President:

    • The President can sign it into law or veto it.

    • Veto Override: Requires a 2/3 majority in both houses to succeed, which is rare.

Handling Similar Bills

• If similar bills are introduced in both houses simultaneously, they may go to a Conference Committee:

  • Composed of members from both houses to reconcile differences between bills.

  • The reconciled bill must be re-voted in both houses before being sent to the President.

Policy Making Process

• The legislative process is part of the broader policy-making process:

  • Identification of issues through constituents or lobbyists.

  • Policy formulation occurs through drafted bills.

  • For a bill to become law, it must be approved by both houses and signed by the President or survive a veto.

• The Executive Branch then implements the adopted policies.