18. Describe the process of making a law.
Answers
Explanation:
Español MENU
Federal Laws and Regulations
Main Navigation
Close
Search
Search All Government
Search
All Topics and Services
Laws and Legal Issues
Federal Laws and Regulations
Branches of the U.S. Government
Commonly Requested U.S. Laws and Regulations
How Laws Are Made and How to Research Them
How Laws Are Made and How to Research Them
Learn how laws, regulations, and executive orders are made and how to look them up.
On This Page
Infographic: How a Bill Becomes a Law How Federal Laws Are Made Federal and State Laws, Regulations, and Related Court Decisions Executive Orders and Other Presidential Actions
Infographic: How a Bill Becomes a Law
Learn how a bill becomes a law with this easy to read infographic. Use this lesson plan with your class.
Opens in new window View a larger version of the infographic. (PDF, Download Adobe Reader)
How a Bill Becomes a Law infographic summary.
Show Description of Infographic
How Federal Laws Are Made
Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government and makes laws for the nation. Congress has two legislative bodies or chambers: the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Anyone elected to either body can propose a new law. A bill is a proposal for a new law.
Steps in Making a Law
A bill can be introduced in either chamber of Congress by a senator or representative who sponsors it.
Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.
The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.
If the bill passes one body of Congress, it goes to the other body to go through a similar process of research, discussion, changes, and voting.
Once both bodies vote to accept a bill, they must work out any differences between the two versions. Then both chambers vote on the same exact bill and, if it passes, they present it to the president.
The president then considers the bill. The president can approve the bill and sign it into law or not approve (veto) a bill.
If the president chooses to veto a bill, in most cases Congress can vote to override that veto and the bill becomes a law. But, if the president pocket vetoes a bill after Congress has adjourned, the veto cannot be overridden.