How a Bill Becomes a Law Flowchart

BILL IS DRAFTED
Members of Congress, the Executive Branch,
and even outside groups can draft (write or
draw up) bills.

HOUSE
Bill is introduced and assigned to a Committee
which refers to a Subcommittee. Only members
can introduce bills.

SENATE
Bill is introduced and assigned to a Committee
which refers to a Subcommittee.

SUBCOMMITTEE
Members study the bill, hold hearings, and
debate provisions. Marks up the bill. If it passes
goes to Committee.

SUBCOMMITTEE
Members study the bill, hold hearings, and
debate provisions. Marks up the bill. If it
passes goes to Committee.

COMMITTEE (22 Committees)

Full Committee considers the bill. If it approves
the bill in some form, the bill goes to the Rules
Committee.

COMMITTEE (15 Committees)

Full Committee considers the bill. If it
approves the bill in some form, the bill goes to
the Rules Committee.

RULES COMMITTEE
It issues a rule to govern debate on the floor.
Sends it to the Full House.

FULL SENATE
Debates the bill and may amend it. If it is
different from the House version, it must go to
a Conference Committee.

FULL HOUSE
Debates the bill and may amend it. If it is
different from the Senate version, it must go to a
Conference Committee.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE Senators

and Representatives meet to reconcile
differences between bills. When
agreement is reached, a compromise bill is
sent to Full Senate.

FULL HOUSE
Votes on bill, if it passes it goes to the President.

FULL SENATE
Votes on bill, if passes it goes to the President.

PRESIDENT
Can sign or veto the bill. Congress can override
it by 2/3 majority vote in the House
and Senate. President can sign the
bill, veto it or do nothing.

Tracking a Bill from Beginning to End

How is a law actually made? Whats the whole process like? That depends, of
course, on what type of law we're talking about. For this example, we'll look at
how a bill first introduced in the House of Representatives becomes a public law.
Step One:
When a Representative has an idea for a new law, he or she becomes the sponsor
of that bill and introduces it by giving it to the Clerk of the House or by placing it
in the hopper. The Clerk assigns a legislative number to the bill, H.R. for bills
introduced in the House of Representatives. The Government Publishing Office
(GPO) then prints the bill and makes it available digitally through GPO's Federal
Digital System (FDsys).
Step Two:
Next, the bill is assigned to a committee by the Speaker of the House so that it can
be studied. The House has 22 standing committees, each with jurisdiction over
bills in certain areas.
The standing committee, or one of its subcommittees, studies the bill and hears
testimony from experts and people interested in the bill. The committee may then
take three actions. It might:
1. Release the bill with a recommendation to pass it;
2. Revise the bill and release it; or
3. Lay it aside so that the House cannot vote on it.

Releasing the bill is called reporting it out. Laying it aside is called tabling.

Step Three:
If the bill is released, it then goes on the House Calendar. Here the House Rules
Committee may call for the bill to be voted on quickly, limit the debate, or limit or
prohibit amendments. Undisputed bills may be passed by unanimous consent, or by
a two-thirds vote if Members of the House agree to suspend the rules.

Step Four:
The bill then goes to the floor of the House for consideration and begins with a
complete reading of the bill (sometimes this is the only complete reading). A third
reading (title only) occurs after any amendments have been added. If 218 of the
435 Representatives vote for it to pass, the bill passes by simple majority and
moves to the Senate.

Step Five:
The bill then goes to the floor of the House for consideration and begins with a
complete reading of the bill (sometimes this is the only complete reading). A third
reading (title only) occurs after any amendments have been added. If 218 of the
435 Representatives vote for it to pass, the bill passes by simple majority and
moves to the Senate.

Step Five:
In order to be introduced in the Senate, a Senator must be recognized by the
presiding officer and announce the introduction of the bill.

Step Six:
Just as in the House, the introduced bill is assigned to a committee. It is assigned to
one of the Senate's 20 standing committees by the presiding officer. The Senate
committee studies and either releases or tables the bill just like the House standing
committee.

Step Seven:
Once released, the bill goes to the Senate floor for consideration. Bills are voted on
in the Senate based on the order in which they come from the committee; however,
an urgent bill may be pushed ahead by leaders of the majority party. When the
Senate considers the bill, they can vote on it indefinitely. When there is no more
debate, the bill is voted on. If 51 of 100 Senators vote for it, the bill passes by a
simple majority.

Step Eight:
The bill then moves to a conference committee, which is made up of Members
from each house. The committee may work out any differences between the House
and Senate versions of the bill. The revised bill is sent back to both houses for their
final approval. Once approved, the bill is produced in print and digitally by the
Government Publishing Office in a process called enrolling. The Clerk from the
House certifies the final version. If a bill originates in the Senate, the Secretary of
the Senate certifies the final version.

Step Nine:
The enrolled bill is now signed by the Speaker of the House and then the Vice
President. Finally, it is sent for the President's consideration. The President has ten
days to sign or veto the enrolled bill. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law.
If the President vetoes it, the bill can still become a law if two-thirds of the Senate
and two-thirds of the House then vote in favor of the bill.