The
Legislative Process
| In
order to understand the status
of a bill before Congress, AFSA has provided the following diagram
which outlines the general legislative process. Changes in procedural
rules, however, leave this process open to variations. For a more
detailed account of House and Senate bill procedure, please consult
the Library of Congress's page Thomas by clicking on one
of these links: House,
Senate. |
|
House
|
Coalition
leaders introduce the bill to the House floor.
|
Bill
is referred to the proper committee (for a list of committees,
click here).
The bill is usually then referred to a subcommittee.
|
|
Committee/subcommittee
meets and may hold hearings to listen to support and
opposition for the bill.
|
|
Committee/subcommittee
goes into "mark up" to make changes and amendments
to the bill.
|
|
The
full committee votes on the changes.
|
|
A
written report is sent to the House floor and the House
representatives debate the proposed version.
|
|
Members
vote on the proposed bill.
|
|
If
a Senate version of the bill has yet to be passed, the
House version of the bill will be referred to the Senate.
Otherwise, the bill will go to conference.
|
|
|
Senate
|
Coalition
leaders introduce the bill to the Senate floor.
|
Bill
is referred to the proper committee (for a list of committees,
click here).
The bill is usually then referred to a subcommittee.
|
|
Committee/subcommittee
meets and may hold hearings to listen to support and
opposition for the bill.
|
|
Committee/subcommittee
goes into "mark up" to make changes and amendments
to the bill.
|
|
The
full committee votes on the changes.
|
|
A
written report is sent to the Senate floor and the Senate
members debate the proposed version.
|
|
Members
vote on the proposed bill.
|
|
If
a House version of the bill has yet to be passed, the
Senate version of the bill will be referred to the House.
Otherwise, the bill will go to conference.
|
|
|
The
two versions of the bill are referred to a conference
committee. The conference committee is comprised
of members from both chambers who will reconcile
the differences between House and Senate versions
of the bill.
|
|
Once
the conference committee has agreed on a compromise,
a conference report is sent back to each chamber
for final approval.
|
|
If
both sides approve the final version of the bill,
it is sent to the President to sign into law.
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