Someone has to make the laws. Here is how a law gets made. We will go one step at a time.

Every new law starts out as an idea. People can ask their lawmakers to start a new law.

A bill is a plan for a new law. It can also be a change to an old law.

Congress is the part of the government that makes laws. Cities and towns can make laws too.

Congress has two parts. They are the House and the Senate. Each state has two senators.

As of November 2026, the House has 435 seats. As of November 2026, the Senate has 100 members.

A bill goes to a committee. They study it and can change it.

Lawmakers vote on a bill. Both the House and the Senate must pass a bill. Then the president can sign it.

The president can sign a bill into law. That person can also say no. That is called a veto.

If a bill gets a veto, Congress can sometimes vote. That vote can override the veto and make it law.

The U.S. government has three branches. They are legislative, executive and judicial.

The president leads the executive branch. The Supreme Court is part of the judicial branch.

Words to know

• committee: small group
• veto: saying no
• override: cancel a veto
• branches: main parts
• senators: Senate members