HOW A BILL BECOMES LAW
nyone can draft a bill; however, only mem-
Step 5 - Committee Actions to
bers of Congress can introduce legislation,
Report a Bill
Aandbydoingsobecomethesponsor(s). Afterreceivingasubcommittee'sreportonabill,
There are four basic types of legislation: bills, joint
the full committee can conduct further study and
resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple
hearings, or it can vote on the subcommittee's
resolutions. The official legislative process begins
recommendations and any proposed amend-
when a bill or resolution is numbered (H.R. signi-
ments. The full committee then votes on its rec-
fies a House bill and S. a Senate bill), referred
ommendation to the House or Senate. This pro-
to a committee, and printed by the Government
cedure is called "ordering a bill reported."
Printing Office.
Step 6 - Publication of a Written
Step 1 - Referral to Committee
Report
With few exceptions, bills are referred to standing
After a committee votes to have a bill reported,
committees in the House or Senate according to
the committee chair has staff to prepare a written
specific rules of procedure. The names of the stand-
report on the bill. This report describes the pur-
ing committees can be found on the IMF Advocacy
pose and extent of what the legislation will do its
Action Center at
impact on existing laws and programs, the position
www.advocacy.myeloma.org.
of the executive branch, and the views of dissent-
ing members of the committee.
Step 2 - Committee Action
When a bill reaches a committee, it is placed on the
Step 7 - Scheduling Floor Action
committee's calendar. A bill can be referred to a
After a bill is reported back to the chamber
subcommittee or considered by the committee as a
(House or Senate) where it originated, it is placed
whole. It is at this point that a bill is examined care-
in chronological order on the calendar. In the
fully and its chances for passage are determined. If
House there are several different legislative calen-
the committee does not act on a bill, it is the equiv-
dars, and the Speaker and majority leader largely
alent of killing it.
determine if, when, and in what order bills come
up. In the Senate there is only one legislative ca-
Step 3 - Subcommittee Review
lendar.
Often bills are referred to a subcommittee for study
and hearings. Hearings provide the opportunity to
Step 8 - Debate
put on the official printed record the views of the
When a bill reaches the floor of the House or Se-
executive branch, experts (e.g., myeloma patients
nate, there are rules or procedures governing the
or researchers), other public officials, and suppor-
debate on legislation. These rules determine the
ters and opponents of the legislation. Testimony can
conditions and amount of time allocated for gen-
be given in person or submitted as a written state-
eral debate.
ment.
Step 9 - Voting
Step 4 - Mark Up
After the debate and the approval of any amend-
When the hearings are completed, the subcommit-
ments, the bill is passed or defeated by the mem-
tee may meet to "mark up" the bill, that is, make
bers voting.
changes and amendments prior to recommending
the bill to the full committee. If a subcommittee
Step 10 - Referral to Other Chamber
votes not to report legislation to the full committee,
When a bill is passed by the House or the Senate
the bill dies.
it is referred to the other chamber where it usually
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follows the same route through committee and
Step 12 - Final Actions
floor action. This chamber may approve the bill as
After a bill has been approved by both the House
received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.
and Senate in identical form, it goes to the Presi-
dent for signature. If the President approves the
Step 11 - Conference Committee
legislation and signs it, it becomes law. Or, the
Action
President can take no action for ten days, while
If only minor changes are made to a bill by the oth-
Congress is in session, and it automatically be-
er chamber, it is common for the legislation to go
comes law. If the President opposes the bill it can
back to the first chamber for concurrence (mutual
be vetoed. If the President takes no action within
agreement by both chambers). However, when the
10 days after the Congress has adjourned its
actions of the other chamber significantly change the
second session (second year of a two-year pe-
bill, a conference committee (members are made
riod), the effect is a "pocket veto" and the legisla-
up of representatives from both chambers) is form-
tion dies.
ed to reconcile the differences between the House
and Senate versions. If the conferees are unable to
Step 13 - Overriding a Veto
reach agreement, the legislation dies. If agreement is
If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may at-
reached, a conference report is prepared describing
tempt to "override the veto." To do this, Congress
the committee members' recommendations for
requires a two-thirds roll call vote of the members
changes. Both the House and the Senate must ap-
who are present in suf icient numbers for a quo-
prove of the conference report.
rum.
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