#separator:tab #html:false #tags column:4 Step 1: An idea A citizen, group or lawmaker has an idea for a law how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 2: Sponsor A member of Congress agrees to introduce the bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 3: Introduction The bill is introduced in the House or the Senate and given a number how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 4: Committee A small group of members studies the bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 5: Hearings Committees listen to experts and the public how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 6: Markup The committee debates and may change the bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 7: Committee vote If the committee approves, the bill goes to the full chamber how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 8: Floor debate All members of that chamber discuss and may amend the bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 9: Vote A majority must vote yes for the bill to pass that chamber how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 10: Other chamber The bill goes through the same process in the other chamber how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 11: Conference committee If versions differ, members from both chambers work out one version how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 12: Final vote Both chambers must pass the same version how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Step 13: President The bill goes to the president how-a-bill-becomes-a-law President signs The bill becomes law how-a-bill-becomes-a-law President vetoes The bill is rejected and sent back to Congress how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Veto override Two-thirds of both houses can pass it anyway how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Pocket veto If Congress adjourns and the president does not sign within ten days, the bill dies how-a-bill-becomes-a-law No action by president After ten days (not counting Sundays) it becomes law if Congress is in session how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Bill A proposed law how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Sponsor The lawmaker who introduces a bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Cosponsor A lawmaker who joins in supporting a bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Act A bill that has passed both houses how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Statute A law passed by a legislature how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Committee A smaller group of lawmakers who study certain subjects how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Subcommittee A smaller group within a committee how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Hearing A meeting where experts and citizens give opinions on a bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Amendment (to a bill) A change proposed to the text of a bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Floor The main meeting space where all members debate and vote how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Majority More than half of the votes how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Quorum Number of members needed to hold a vote how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Roll call vote A vote where each member's answer is recorded how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Voice vote Members shout yes or no and the presiding officer decides how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Filibuster Long speeches used to delay a Senate vote how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Cloture A Senate vote to end debate; needs three-fifths (60) of senators how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Conference committee House and Senate members who combine different versions of a bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Revenue bills Bills for raising money must begin in the House how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Who can introduce a bill? Only members of Congress, though anyone can suggest an idea how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Where do bills start? In either the House or Senate, except revenue bills how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Rider An unrelated provision added to a bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Omnibus bill A very large bill that covers many topics how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Appropriations Bills that provide money for government programs how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Resolution A statement of Congress's opinion that does not become law how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Joint resolution Passed by both houses and signed by the president; has the force of law how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Public law A law that applies to everyone how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Private law A law that applies to a specific person or group how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Federal Register Daily publication of rules and notices from federal agencies how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Regulations Detailed rules made by agencies to carry out laws how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Constituent A voter represented by a lawmaker; they can contact their representatives how-a-bill-becomes-a-law How you can help Contact lawmakers, vote, testify at hearings, join groups or write letters how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Congress.gov Official website to follow bills how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Law enforcement Executive branch carries out the laws how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Courts and laws Courts interpret laws and can strike them down if unconstitutional how-a-bill-becomes-a-law State laws State legislatures follow similar steps, with a governor signing instead of the president how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Local laws (ordinances) Passed by city or county councils how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Three readings Many legislatures read a bill several times before passing it how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Enacted Officially made into law how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Supermajority A vote higher than a simple majority, like two-thirds how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Simple majority Half plus one of those voting how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Tie vote in the Senate The vice president casts the deciding vote how-a-bill-becomes-a-law Bill number H.R. means a House bill; S. means a Senate bill how-a-bill-becomes-a-law