How A Bill Becomes A Law

A bill, or an idea for a new law, is introduced in either house. Exception: All bills to raise money must originate in the House of Representatives.

The bill is assigned to a committee. The main committee may then assign it to a subcommittee.

The bill passes out of subcommittee and committee hearings if it is approved by a majority.

The bill is sent to the House or Senate floor, debated, and voted upon. It may be approved by a majority vote or denied.

The bill is then sent to the other house. (Repeat steps 1-4.)

If the second house passes a different version the bill, members of both houses meet as a conference committee to work out disagreements. When finished, both floors vote on the new bill. It may be approved by a majority vote or rejected.

An approved bill is then sent to the President. He may either veto (reject) the bill or sign it into law. If the President neither signs nor vetoes the bill, it becomes law in ten days.

If the President vetoes a bill, it returns to Congress. The bill is then voted upon one last time. If Congress approves the bill with a 2/3 majority, the President's veto is overturned and the bill becomes law.