How a Bill becomes a Law

Starter Who is the leader of senate?Who is the leader of senate?

Step 1 Starts with an idea from a citizen, member of Congress, or the president.Starts with an idea from a citizen, member of Congress, or the president. idea sponsored by member of Congress, put into draft form, & introduced into Congressidea sponsored by member of Congress, put into draft form, & introduced into Congress Assigned a number (HR 123)Assigned a number (HR 123)

Step 2 Bill assigned to Committee. The committee studies, researches, and revises the bill. They can:Bill assigned to Committee. The committee studies, researches, and revises the bill. They can: Send the bill to next step Send the bill to next step Kill the bill (bill will not become a law) Kill the bill (bill will not become a law) Pigeonhole the bill (set it aside for later) Pigeonhole the bill (set it aside for later)

Step 3 Subcommittee studies bill, gets citizen input, then has the same options as above (send, kill, or pigeonhole)Subcommittee studies bill, gets citizen input, then has the same options as above (send, kill, or pigeonhole)

Step 4 Full committee: votes to sent to full House or Senate (which ever one it started in)Full committee: votes to sent to full House or Senate (which ever one it started in)

Step 5 Bill read to full House or SenateBill read to full House or Senate DebatedDebated vote (voice, standing, or roll-call)-must have a 2/3 approval to go to next stepvote (voice, standing, or roll-call)-must have a 2/3 approval to go to next step

Step 6 If passes, must go to other houseIf passes, must go to other house Bill must pass in the same form (no changes can be made)Bill must pass in the same form (no changes can be made) If changes are made must call a Conference committee to work out compromisesIf changes are made must call a Conference committee to work out compromises If changes are approved by both House and Senate, goes to next stepIf changes are approved by both House and Senate, goes to next step

Step 7 Sent to President for final approval,he/she can:Sent to President for final approval,he/she can: *sign bill into law *Pocket veto (put aside, if after 10 days Congress is in session it becomes a law, if not in session it dies *Pocket veto (put aside, if after 10 days Congress is in session it becomes a law, if not in session it dies *Veto (refusal to sign it into law) *Veto (refusal to sign it into law)

Step 8 If vetoed by president, Congress can override the veto but 2/3 vote in each house. Very difficult to achieve.If vetoed by president, Congress can override the veto but 2/3 vote in each house. Very difficult to achieve.