The process of how a bill becomes a law in the House of Representatives is a fascinating and complex one, involving several key steps. Let’s dive into the details:
Sponsoring a Bill
The process begins when a Representative sponsors a bill, indicating their support for the proposed legislation. The bill is then assigned a legislative number and referred to a committee for further consideration.
Committee Consideration
Once in committee, the bill may undergo hearings where various stakeholders and experts provide their input. The committee then decides whether to release the bill for further consideration by the full House.
If Released by the Committee
If the committee decides to release the bill, it is placed on the House calendar, where it awaits scheduling for floor consideration. At this stage, the bill may be debated, amended, or even voted on by the full House.
Passing the House
For a bill to pass the House, it requires a simple majority vote (218 out of 435 Representatives). If the bill passes, it moves on to the Senate for further consideration.
Senate Action
In the Senate, the bill undergoes a similar process, being assigned to a committee, potentially released for floor consideration, debated, amended, and voted on. If the Senate makes changes to the bill, it must return to the House for concurrence.
Once both chambers have passed the same version of the bill, it is sent to the President for final approval or veto.