The Legislative Process

Study Notes

Legislative Process

Introduction

The legislative process is the process by which a bill becomes a law
It involves several stages, including introduction, committee review, floor debate, voting, and signing into law

Stages of the Legislative Process

Introduction
- A member of the legislature introduces a bill in either the House of Representatives or the Senate
- The bill is written in a specific format and typically includes a statement of purpose and the text of the proposed law
Referral
- The bill is referred to a committee, which is responsible for reviewing and debating the bill
- The committee may hold hearings, gather input from experts and the public, and mark up the bill (make changes or amendments)
Committee Review
- The committee reviews the bill and may:
  - Approve the bill and send it back to the full chamber for consideration
  - Reject the bill and prevent it from moving forward
  - Amend the bill and send it back to the full chamber for consideration
Floor Debate
- The bill is debated on the floor of the chamber where it was introduced
- Members of the legislature may offer amendments, and there may be votes on these amendments
Voting
- The bill is put to a vote in the chamber where it was introduced
- If it passes, it is sent to the other chamber (e.g. from the House to the Senate, or vice versa) for consideration
Conference Committee
- If the bill passes in both chambers but is not identical, a conference committee is formed to iron out the differences
- The conference committee is made up of members from both chambers
Final Vote
- The bill is put to a final vote in both chambers
- If it passes, it is sent to the head of the executive branch (e.g. the President) for signing
Signing or Veto
- The head of the executive branch signs the bill into law, or vetoes it
- If vetoed, the bill is sent back to the legislature, which can try to override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers

Legislative Process

Introduction

The legislative process involves transforming a bill into a law through multiple stages
These stages include introduction, committee review, floor debate, voting, and signing into law

Stages of the Legislative Process

A bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate by a member of the legislature
The introduced bill includes a statement of purpose and the proposed law's text

Committee Review

The bill is referred to a committee responsible for reviewing and debating it
The committee may hold hearings, gather expert and public input, and mark up the bill
The committee can approve, reject, or amend the bill before sending it back to the full chamber

Floor Debate and Voting

The bill is debated on the floor of the introducing chamber
Members can offer amendments, which may be voted on
The bill is put to a vote in the introducing chamber
If it passes, it is sent to the other chamber for consideration

Conference Committee and Final Vote

If the bill passes in both chambers but is not identical, a conference committee iron out the differences
The conference committee consists of members from both chambers
The bill is put to a final vote in both chambers
If it passes, it is sent to the head of the executive branch for signing

Signing or Veto

The head of the executive branch signs the bill into law or vetoes it
If vetoed, the bill is sent back to the legislature, which can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers