Excerpts from USA.Gov
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.Open All +
- 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.
Differences Between the House and Senate Procedures
The Senate and the House have some procedural differences between them. Learn
more about each body’s process:
How a bill becomes law when it originates in the House of Representatives
Active legislation in the House
How a bill becomes law when it originates in the Senate
Active legislation in the Senate