PREPARING FOR THE CONVERSATION
Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Representative
Introduces bill i n the House of Representatives*
Senator
Introduces bill i n the Senate*
Senate Committee/Subcommittee
House Committee/Subcommittee
Releases
Revises & Releases
Table
s
House floor
Bill i s read, debated and amended; simple majority needed to pass
Passed bills sent to other c hamber unless similar measures are already under consideration
Releases
Revises & Releases
Table
s
Senate floor
Bill i s read, debated and amended; simple majority needed to pass
Passes different bill than House
Passes different bill than Senate
Conference Committee**
Writes c ompromise bill. That bill goes back to both houses for final approval; approved bill i s sent to the President
President signs
Bill becomes L aw
President vetoes
2/3 vote i n Congress can override veto
*Legislation may b e i ntroduced i n either c hamber except for tax l aw, which must o riginate i n the House **Most major l egislation g oes to c onference c ommittee; When o ne c hamber p asses l egislation o riginating i n the o ther without making c hanges, b ill g oes directly to President
Source: National Journal Research, 2016.
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PREPARING FOR THE CONVERSATION
Legislative Process: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Representative
Introduces bill in the House of Representatives*
Senator
Introduces bill in the Senate*
Senate Committee/Subcommittee
House Committee/Subcommittee
Releases
Revises & Releases
Table
s
House floor
Bill is read, debated and amended; simple majority needed to pass
Passed bills sent to other chamber unless similar measures are already under consideration
Releases
Revises & Releases
Table
s
Senate floor
Bill is read, debated and amended; simple majority needed to pass
Passes different bill than House
Passes different bill than Senate
Conference Committee**
Writes compromise bill. That bill goes back t o both houses for final approval; approved bill is sent to t he P resident
President signs
Bill becomes L aw
President vetoes
2/3 vote in Congress can override veto
*Legislation m ay b e introduced in either c hamber except for t ax law, which m ust o riginate in t he House **Most major legislation g oes t o c onference c ommittee; When o ne c hamber p asses legislation o riginating in t he o ther without m aking c hanges, b ill g oes directly t o P resident
Source: National Journal Research, 2016.
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PREPARING FOR THE CONVERSATION
House Rules Allow Majority Party to Prevent Passage
The Legislative Process and Obstacles in the House
Bill is ignored by full committee
Bill fails passage in subcommittee vote
Bill fails passage in full committee vote
Introduced to Chamber
Sent to Committee
Sent to Subcommittee
Sent Back to Committee
Full Senate V ote
Debated on House Floor
Amended
Placed on Legislative Calendar
Bill fails final vote in full chamber
Bill sent back t o committee with a motion t o recommit
“Poison pill”
amendments sabotage final passage
Speaker of t he House declines to place bill on the legislative calendar
Sent t o Senate
The Senate relies on unanimous consent t o operate efficiently; therefore, individual Senators have the power t o delay or prevent a bill’s passage by creating additional procedural hurdles, including filibusters.
Source: National Journal Research, 2016; The Legislative Process,” U.S. House of Representatives.
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PREPARING FOR THE CONVERSATION
Bills Continue to Face Hurdles After Passage
Process and Obstacles for Enacting and Enforcing Laws
If t he law is challenged in court, a judge can rule to prevent enforcement with an injunction and may eventually strike down the law
Enacted
Signed by President
President vetoes bill, Congress can override veto with a supermajority vote
Executive orders or signing statements can prevent a law from being enforced as originally intended
Analysis
• Even if a bill manages to pass both chambers of Congress, the President can use vetoes, executive orders, or s igning s tatements to prevent the bill f rom being enacted or enforced
• Opponents of the bill, including those outside of the legislative process, can prevent the law f rom being enacted by mounting a successful legal challenge
Source: National Journal Research, 2016; The Legislative Process,” U.S. House of Representatives.
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additional information or questions
1/24/17
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