MAKING A LAW

FIRST STEP

• A bill has to be proposed by Congress

SECOND STEP

• The member who introduces the bill will send a letter to inform the other members
• Most resolutions are concurrent, dealing with both houses in Congress

THIRD STEP

• To introduce the bill, they read the bill aloud and printed copies are passed out to everyone

FOURTH STEP

• Then the members take a vote
• More readings follow, resulting in a total of three readings

FIFTH STEP

• Bills go through different committees
• The standing committees filter through the various bills

SIXTH STEP

• Once a bill reaches a committee the chairman almost always refers it to one of the several subcommittees
• Sometimes subcommittees have to travel to the location the bill refers to

SEVENTH STEP

• When a subcommittee has completed their work, they go to the full committee
• The chairman steers the bill through debates
• If it passes, they make changes
• It then becomes a committee bill

EIGHTH STEP

• They report a committee bill to the House to be scheduled for a debate

NINTH STEP

• The bill is considered on a regularly scheduled basis

TENTH STEP

• If the House agrees with the rules of the bill, it passes the rule committee

ELEVENTH STEP

• General debate begins and the bill receives its second reading, section by section

TWELFTH STEP

• When suggestions are made through debates, they vote on those suggestions

THIRTEENTH STEP

• Once a bill has been approved at its second reading, it is engrossed or printed on its final form

FOURTEENTH STEP

• The speaker signs it and it is sent to the Senate