Federal Legislation Process Essay

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The federal legislative process begins with the construction of a bill, or proposed law, by an individual. A member of Congress must then sponsor the bill for it to be introduced to the House of Representatives or Senate for further consideration. Once a bill is constructed, it is numbered and referred to either a House of Representatives or Senate Committee which then reviews the proposed actions of the bill and makes amendments to the bill as necessary. Bills may be referred to subcommittees of each committee in which greater scrutiny of the proposed legislation occurs. Subcommittees typically involve the use of hearings and professional testimony to determine legitimacy and necessity of the bill. After reviewing the bill, the subcommittee …show more content…

The Senate has only one legislative calendar, however the house of representatives has multiple calendars which the bill may be assigned to for debate. unlike the senate’s rules and administration committee, the house of representatives committee has the power to assign a closed or open rule to the bill. a closed rule means that only members of the original congressional committee assigned to the bill may make ammendments while an open rule allows for any representative to suggest an ammendment. the rules committee may also refuse to make a rule decision, delaying or killing the …show more content…

the preseint can sign the bill and it becomes law. the president can ignore the bill for ten days wile congress is in session and it becomes law. president can veto the bill. or president can ignored bill, congressional session ends, bill is pocket veto. If the president vetoes a bill, Congress still has an opportunity to enact the law with an override vote in which both houses decide whether to honor the president 's veto or to enact the law without his signature. An override requires a two-thirds roll call vote of the members who are present in sufficient numbers for a quorum in each chamber. No debate is allowed before the vote on a veto. If both houses override the veto, the bill becomes a public law, having the same effect and power as if approved by the