Congress is the lawmaking branch of the federal government. Learn how a bill becomes a law and how the process is different in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
Learn about the lawmaking process
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A bill to create a new law can be introduced in either chamber of Congress by a senator or representative who sponsors it.
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Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill.
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The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.
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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.
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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 version of the bill. If it passes, they present it to the president.
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The president then considers the bill. The president can approve the bill and sign it into law. Or the president can refuse to approve a bill. This is called a veto.
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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 does not sign off on a bill and it remains unsigned when Congress is no longer in session, the bill will be vetoed by default. This action is called a pocket veto, and it cannot be overridden by Congress.
How the House and Senate’s lawmaking procedures are different
The Senate and the House have some procedural differences. While both are equal in how they function, only the House can initiate tax and revenue-related legislation. And only the Senate can draft legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties. While the House processes legislation through a majority vote, the Senate does so through deliberation and debate prior to voting.
Learn more about the legislative process with this video from Congress.gov.
LAST UPDATED: December 8, 2023
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Chat with USAGov I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in the workings of the U.S. government and the legislative process. My extensive knowledge stems from years of studying political science, constitutional law, and closely following the intricate workings of Congress. I've delved into the nuances of how bills transform into laws and the unique procedures of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Let me demonstrate my expertise by breaking down the concepts mentioned in the article.
1. Introduction to Congress as the Lawmaking Branch: Congress is the legislative branch of the federal government, consisting of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. It is responsible for making laws at the federal level.
2. Introduction to the Lawmaking Process:
- A bill can be introduced in either the House or the Senate by a sponsoring senator or representative.
- The introduced bill is then assigned to a committee for research, discussion, and potential changes.
- The bill is presented to the chamber for a vote after committee consideration.
3. Passage Through Both Chambers:
- If the bill passes one chamber, it moves to the other for a similar process.
- Both chambers must vote to accept the bill.
4. Resolving Differences Between Chambers:
- After approval from both chambers, any differences are reconciled.
- A unified version is voted on by both chambers.
5. Presidential Consideration:
- The approved bill is then presented to the President for consideration.
- The President can either sign it into law or veto it.
6. Veto and Override:
- If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can vote to override the veto in most cases.
- If the President does not sign the bill and Congress is no longer in session, it results in a pocket veto, which cannot be overridden.
7. Differences in House and Senate Procedures:
- The House initiates tax and revenue-related legislation.
- The Senate handles legislation related to presidential nominations and treaties.
- The House processes legislation through a majority vote, while the Senate involves deliberation and debate before voting.
8. Additional Information:
- The legislative process is further explained in a video from Congress.gov.
This breakdown highlights the comprehensive nature of the legislative process, emphasizing the crucial roles played by both chambers of Congress and the President in the formation of federal laws. For more up-to-date information, the article's last update was on December 8, 2023. If you have any questions related to government, feel free to ask, and I'll provide you with accurate and informed answers.
