How a Bill Becomes a Law

Every federal law in the United States starts as a bill. Here's the step-by-step process a bill goes through before it becomes law.

Step 1: Introduction

Any member of Congress can introduce a bill. In the House, a Representative drops the bill in the "hopper." In the Senate, a Senator formally introduces it on the floor. The bill receives a number (e.g., HR 1234 for House bills, S 456 for Senate bills) and is printed by the Government Publishing Office.

Step 2: Committee Review

The bill is referred to the appropriate committee (e.g., Ways and Means for tax bills, Judiciary for legal matters). The committee holds hearings, invites expert testimony, and may amend the bill during "markup." Most bills never make it past this stage — only about 5% of introduced bills become law.

Step 3: Floor Debate & Vote

If the committee approves the bill, it goes to the full chamber for debate. In the House, the Rules Committee sets debate rules. In the Senate, debate is generally unlimited unless 60 senators vote for "cloture" to end a filibuster. After debate, the chamber votes. A simple majority (218 in the House, 51 in the Senate) is usually needed to pass.

Step 4: The Other Chamber

Once one chamber passes a bill, it goes to the other chamber. The second chamber can pass it as-is, amend it, or ignore it entirely. If the second chamber passes a different version, both versions must be reconciled.

Step 5: Conference Committee

When the House and Senate pass different versions, a conference committee of members from both chambers works out a compromise. The final version (called a "conference report") must be approved by both chambers without further amendment.

Step 6: Presidential Action

The President has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to act. The President can: sign it into law, veto it (Congress can override with a two-thirds vote in both chambers), or take no action. If Congress is in session and the President takes no action for 10 days, the bill becomes law automatically. If Congress has adjourned, inaction results in a "pocket veto."

Key Facts

Approximately 10,000–15,000 bills are introduced per two-year Congress.
Only about 3–5% of introduced bills become law.
Bills that don't pass by the end of a Congress (2 years) expire and must be reintroduced.
Revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives (Article I, Section 7).
A vetoed bill can still become law if two-thirds of both chambers vote to override.

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