How Thoughts Become Laws
FOREWORD
• Anyone may get an idea that “there ought
to be a law”. If others agree, including a
member of Congress, a bill to implement
the thought may be introduced. If the bill
has merit, and wins enough Congressional
and public support, it will become a law.
PART I
• “How a Thought Becomes a Bill” was created by
the National Legislative Commission of The
American Legion to illustrate the democratic
processes within the Legion through which
legislative mandates (or policy decisions) are
developed from basic ideas. Many organizations
follow similar steps. While The American Legion
takes great credit for the “GI Bill” (sharing with
Congress and the people), this illustration is
dedicated to procedure rather than history. -
PART II
• “How a Bill Becomes a Law” shows the
normal path of a bill in Congress, from
introduction to enactment. While entirely
disassociated from American Legion
legislation, as such, the NEA presentation
is applicable to any bill. We are grateful to
the NEA, and its staff, for permission to
use this very excellent study.
Part 1: How A Thought
• 1919 Johnny is out with
an honorable discharge,
$60, and a railroad ticket.
• Home again! What now?
How about a job?
School? That church date
with Mary?
• A generation later.
• A resolution embodying
these ideas is presented
and adopted with
recommendation for
approval by the next
Department convention.
• Most bills can be introduced in
either House (“GI Bill” was
introduced in Senate).
• Referred to committee which
then holds public hearings on
the bill.
• Full committee meets in
executive session to consider
the facts. It may kill, approve
(with or without amendments),
or draft a new bill.
• Committee recommends bill for
passage and it is then listed on
the calendar.
• The bill comes up for debate
(few hours to a few weeks)
Amendments may or may not
be added.
• The bill is voted on.
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If passed, it goes to the House of
Representatives for action. It is
referred to the proper committee.
Hearings are held.
The committee rejects, prepares a
new, or accepts bill with or without
amendments.
Committee recommends bill for
passage and it is then listed on
the calendar and sent to the Rules
Committee.
The bill comes up for debate (few
hours to a few weeks)
Amendments may or may not be
added (depending on Rules
Committee determination).
The bill is voted on
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If bill passes second body, but
contains differences, either
house may request a
conference committee. The
conferees (5each) meet and
attempt to reconcile differences
An agreement is reached and
reported back to their respective
houses. The report is either
accepted or rejected.
If accepted, bill is signed by
Speaker of the House and
President of the Senate, and
sent to the President of the
United States.
President may sign or veto the
bill within 10 days. Ifs/he doesn’t
and Congress is still in session it
automatically becomes law.
Pocket veto – begin again at
square one. Two-thirds majority
of each house can over turn a
signed vetoed bill.
Some Helpful Explanations and
Definitions
Congress:
• The Congress consists of two (Houses)
bodies The Senate and House of
Representatives. The Senate has 100
members (2 from each state) who are
elected, except Governors may appoint a
person to an unexpired term due to death
or resignation until the following general
election. The 435 Representatives are
elected for two year terms. They
Titles and Address:
• Address Senators as Hon. John Doe,
United States Senate, Senate Office
Building. Representatives as Hon. John
Doe, House of Representatives, House
Office Building. Both Washington, D. C.
A Bill:
• Bills are introduced only by Senators or
Representatives: S. (followed by a number)
means Senate bill; HR (followed by a number)
means House of Representatives bill. They are
numbered consecutively in order of introduction.
Each House has its own number series. Bills are
the usual legislative measure, although forms of
resolutions are used. Approval of both Houses
and President required for a bill to become a
law.
Senate (or House) Joint
Resolution:
• SJRes or HJRes require same approval as
bills and are numbered consecutively.
President does not sign same when
Constitutional amendment proposal is
voted because both Houses must approve
by a two-thirds majority.
Appropriation and Tax Bills:
• All appropriations and tax measures originate in
the House of Representatives but must be
approved by the Senate and signed by the
President. .All governmental agencies make
initial requests for operating funds. These are
then screened by the Bureau of the Budget and
transmitted to the House of Representatives.
The Bureau of the Budget may approve the
initial request, cut or increase it. The Congress
has the final say in such matters before
measures are presented to the President.
Congressional Committees:
• The Senate has 16 standing Committees;
the House or Representatives has 20. All
legislative measures are referred to
appropriate committee for study and
recommendations. These committees hold
hearings at which proponents and
opponents state their views on the
particular bill or resolution. Report of
Committee is made to respective House
and bears great weight in outcome of bill.
Rules Committee
• One of the most powerful committees in
the House of Representatives
• Primary function
- determine the order of consideration
- establishes rules under which bill is
considered