The Legislative Process

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how the legislative process in the United States is a complex process full of checks and balances to ensure that each law passed in this country is in the best interest of its citizens. This paper outlines the legislative process in the United States as well as the steps a bill must go through to become law. Furthermore,it discusses the history of a specific bill, including the introduction of that bill, the major provisions of that bill, the Senate and House Committees, which it was sent to for review and the final vote on the bill.

From the Paper:

"The most common legislative process that we think of, however, is the making of the laws. The first stage of a bill becoming law in the United States is of course the drafting of the bill. Many government officials may be involved in this process including but not limited to a senator, representative, the white house, state legislatures, organizations, scholars, and constituents. The next step in a senate bill becoming law is that it is introduced in Senate Chamber by the senator. Next, "If no objection is heard, the bill is considered read twice and referred to the appropriate committee" (Legislative, p. 1). The bill is then entered on the Senate Journal and given a number (Legislative, p. 1). Following this step, the "bill is entered into ledgers and the Legislative Information System and marked up for printing" (Legislative, p. 1). "

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Background and Need for the Legislation." The Library of Congress. http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&dbname=cp106&sid=cp106foF4v&refer=&r_n=hr360.106&item=&sel=TOC_4542&
• "Bill (proposed law)." Wikipedia.com. April 26, 2006.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_%28proposed_law%29
• Enactment of a Law. U.S. Senate Legislation & Records. http://www.senate.gov/legislative/common/briefing/Enactment_law.htm
• "Hearings." The Library of Congress.http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&dbname=cp106&sid=cp106foF4v&refer=&r_n=hr360.106&item=&sel=TOC_7025&H.R. 764. (Final version). The Library of Congress.http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=106_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ177.106
• Legislative Process: How a Senate Bill Become a Law. www.senate.gov. http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/d_three_sections_with_teasers/process.htm

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