HOW BILLS BECOME LAWS

THE BILL BEGINS

• Laws begin as ideas
• Theses ideas may come from a Representative--or a citizen like you
• Citizens who have ideas for laws can contact their Representatives
• They discuss their ideas
• If the Representative agree, they research the ideas and write them as bills

THE BILL IS PROPOSED

• When a Representative has written a bill, the bill needs a sponsor
• The Representative talks with other Representatives about the bill
• Once a bill has a sponsor and the support...
• IT IS READY TO BE INTRODUCED

THE BILL IS INTRODUCED

• A bill is introduced when its placed in the hopper--a special box on the side of the clerk's desk
• Only Representatives can introduce bills in the U.S House of Representatives

The committee review, research, and revise the bill before voting on whether or not to send the bill back to the House floor.

THE BILL IS REPORTED

When the committee has approved a bill, it is sent---or reported--to the House floor. The bill is ready to debate with the U.S House of Representative

THE BILL IS DEBATED

Representatives discuss the bill and explain why they agree or disagree with it. When all changes have been made, the bill is ready to be voted on.

THE BILL IS VOTED ON

• Viva Voce: The speaker or the House asks the Representatives who support the bill to say "aye" and those who oppose it say "no"