HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
in the Congress of the United States of America

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A bill is a draft of a statute presented to a legislature. This bill is then used to make our laws and to form our government, with these bills we shape how our society is being run and how duties are being carried out. Except for bills having to do with revenue, a bill maybe started in either house or senate. below is a list of steps that a bill must go through to become a law.

in this list it is represented starting from the house of representatives, but a bill may start in either house of legislature, except for revenue bills - they must originate from the house of representatives.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

1. Bill is introduced in the house

2. Presiding officer refers it to proper committee

3. Committee reports on the bill

4. Put on calendar

5. Rules committee clears way to bring bill to the floor

6. Chairman of committee brings it to the floor; is debated and voted upon

SENATE

7. Sent to Senate; Presiding officer (Vice President or President ProTemp) refers it to the proper committee

8. Committee reports on bill

9. Bill is placed on the calander to be discussed in the Senate

10. Passed by Senate but changes made from house bill

COMPROMISE

11. Conference Committee works out compromise between the house version and senate version of the bill.

12. Both houses pass compromise bill

PRESIDENT

13. President signs bill a new law is formed or president vetos the bill.

if the president vetoes the bill

14. Goes back to the house; If passed by 2/3's vote

15. Then passed by 2/3's vote in the senate

if the president vetos a bill then the senate and house of representatives must have at least 2/3's vote by both branchs, if not then the bill becomes dead.

now that you know how a bill become law here in the United States, i have prepaired a few good links to other sites

Email the Whitehouse

President of the United States of America - Bill Clinton - president@whitehouse.gov - Homepage about the President
Vice President of the United States of America - Al Gore - vice.president@whitehouse.gov - Homepage about the Vice President
The First Lady - Hillary Clinton - first.lady@whitehouse.gov - Homepage about the First Lady