How A Bill Becomes A Law

Front 1

Idea for bill or policy is suggested by President, special interest group or private citizen

Back 1

Stage One

Front 2

Draft of Bill put in the hopper in the House

Back 2

Stage One

Front 3

Clerk gives bill a number and title: First Reading

Back 3

Stage One

Front 4

Speaker sends bill to a standing committee

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Stage One

Front 5

House Standing committee considers bill

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Stage One

Front 6

House Standing committee refers bill to subcommittee

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Stage One

Front 7

House Subcommittee investigates, holds public hearings and hears testimony

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Stage One

Front 8

House Subcommittee sends the bill back to full committee

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Stage One

Front 9

Bill can be passed

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Stage One

Front 10

Bill can be pigeonholed (put aside and ignored)

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Stage One

Front 11

Bill can be reported as an amended bill

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Stage One

Front 12

Bill is rejected

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Stage One

Front 13

An entirely new bill is substituted

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Stage One

Front 14

Bill is reported to House Rules Committee

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Stage One

Front 15

Bill placed on one of five calendars (calendar is a list of bills marked in the order in which the House will consider them)

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Stage One

Front 16

House Rules Committee must give its approval

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Stage One

Front 17

Bill reaches the floor

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Stage Two

Front 18

Bill is debated by Committee of the Whole in the House

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Stage Two

Front 19

Amendments are proposed and voted on

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Stage Two

Front 20

Committee of the Whole in the House votes on bill

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Stage Two

Front 21

Voice vote: voting procedure, members shout "yea" or "nay", vote quickly & anonymously

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Stage Two

Front 22

Roll call/Record vote: voting procedure, members answer "yea" or "nay" when called, 1973 electronic voting records & totals immediately

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Stage Two

Front 23

Teller vote: voting procedure, members pass 2 tellers, first "yeas" then "nays", 1971 identities can be recorded

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Stage Two

Front 24

Standing/Division vote: voting procedure, members stand and are counted

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Stage Two

Front 25

Bill printed in final form

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Stage Two

Front 26

Bill is voted on by entire House

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Stage Two

Front 27

Bill signed by Speaker of House and sent to Senate

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Stage Two

Front 28

Bill Passes

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All Stages

Front 29

Bill Dies

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All Stages

Front 30

Bill introduced in Senate

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Stage Three

Front 31

Bill refered to Senate Standing Committee by President of Senate

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Stage Three

Front 32

Bill considered by Senate Standing Committee

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Stage Three

Front 33

Bill assigned to Senate Subcommittee

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Stage Three

Front 34

Senate Subcommittee investigates, holds public hearings and hears testimony

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Stage Three

Front 35

Senate Subcommittee sends the bill back to full committee

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Stage Three

Front 36

Bill is reported to Senate Majority Leader for scheduling (only one calendar in Senate)

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Stage Three

Front 37

Bill reaches the floor

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Stage Three

Front 38

Bill is debated on floor of Senate, few limitations on debate in Senate, only Senate has filibuster privelege

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Stage Three

Front 39

Amendments are proposed and voted on

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Stage Three

Front 40

Senate votes on the bill

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Stage Three

Front 41

Bill signed by President of Senate

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Stage Three

Front 42

Bill has passed through House,unchanged in Senate and passed then sent to President for approval and signing

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Stage Four

Front 43

Different version of Bill passed through Senate than Bill passed in the House

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Stage Four

Front 44

Conference Committee assigned by Speaker of House and Senate Majority Leader

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Stage Four

Front 45

Conference Committee works out compromised version of Bill

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Stage Four

Front 46

Bill sent to the House and Senate for approval

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Stage Four

Front 47

Bill passed both houses with 2/3 vote

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Stage Four

Front 48

Compromised Bill sent to President for approval and signing

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Stage Four

Front 49

President signs the bill and it becomes law

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Stage Four

Front 50

President vetoes the bill describes the problems with the bill and sends it back to Congress

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Stage Four

Front 51

Congress can override veto, pass bill in both houses with 2/3 vote

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Stage Four

Front 52

Bill becomes law without the President's signature

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Stage Four

Front 53

Bill becomes law after 10 days if the President does not sign it

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Stage Four

Front 54

President can pocket veto, President does not sign bill within 10 day period before Congress ends its session, does not become law

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Stage Four