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5. In the process of a bill becoming a law, the bill must begin with committee consideration.

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For a bill to become a law it must pass through five phases.

1. A member of congress or state legislature introduces the bill. Some bills never leave this stage.

2. Once a bill has been introduced, it will be assigned to a committee of the same subject base. In this stage, the bill potentially goes through revision or consideration. Public hearings are held in this stage.

3. After committee, a bill is scheduled for floor debate. It is in this stage that amendments may be added or dropped.

4. Once one legislative body has passed a bill, it then is passed to a second body for approval where it again must pass from committee, to debate, to vote. It is possible for a bill to be passing through each body simultaneously and to be considered by more than one committee. If the bills are different in either body a conference committee is formed to rewrite the bill and send it back to each body.

5. Following the passage of a bill in both houses, it is sent to the executive officers for passage. The president or governor has the power to veto a bill. A veto can only be overturned if the bill can be passed by a two-thirds majority.

 

Resources:

Guither, H.D., Edelman, M.A., and Yoho, C.B. 1991. Making Your Views Count on Public Policy Issues. North Central Regional Extension publication No. 389. Ames: Iowa State University Cooperative Extension Publications Office.

U.S. House of Representatives - Home Page http://www.house.gov

The United States Senate http://www.senate.gov

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Last updated: 10 June 2002
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