Process of How a Bill Becomes a Law?

Answer 1

Boy: Woof! You sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington. But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?

I'm just a bill.
Yes, I'm only a bill.
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill.
Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city.
It's a long, long wait
While I'm sitting in committee,
But I know I'll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage.

Bill: Well I got this far. When I started, I wasn't even a bill, I was just an idea. Some folks back home decided they wanted a law passed, so they called their local Congressman and he said, "You're right, there oughta be a law." Then he sat down and wrote me out and introduced me to Congress. And I became a bill, and I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law.

I'm just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill,
And I got as far as Capitol Hill.
Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key Congressmen discuss and debate
Whether they should let me be a law.
How I hope and pray that they will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: Listen to those congressmen arguing! Is all that discussion and debate about you?

Bill: Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones. Most bills never even get this far. I hope they decide to report on me favourably, otherwise I may die.

Boy: Die?

Bill: Yeah, die in committee. Oooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live! Now I go to the House of Representatives, and they vote on me.

Boy: If they vote yes, what happens?

Bill: Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again.

Boy: Oh no!

Bill: Oh yes!

I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill
Well, then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills
For the president to sign
And if he signs me, then I'll be a law.
How I hope and pray that he will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Boy: You mean even if the whole Congress says you should be a law, the president can still say no?

Bill: Yes, that's called a veto. If the President vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress and they vote on me again, and by that time you're so old...

Boy: By that time it's very unlikely that you'll become a law. It's not easy to become a law, is it?

Bill: No!

But how I hope and I pray that I will,
But today I am still just a bill.

Congressman: He signed you, Bill! Now you're a law!

Bill: Oh yes!!!

Answer 2

Okay, this is why they need to bring back "school house rock" on saturday mornings. follow the link below for the lyrics to the song.
Otherwise here is the process.

Where does a bill start?
When an individual or group gets an idea for a new law or a change to an old law. It starts with the people.

What is a bill?
An idea of a citizen, taken to a congressperson, and put down in writing as a proposed law.

After a bill is drafted, Representative(s) (either Congresspersons or Senators) propose(s) a bill in the House or Senate.

The Bill is read to the representatives on the floor (a bill must be read into the record three times – watch for these three occasions!)

The Bill is sent to the appropriate House or Senate standing committee (For example, an issue dealing with education would be sent to the Education Committee; an issue dealing with the interstate highway system would be sent to the Transportation Committee)

The committee holds public hearings on the bill where individuals or interested groups can give public comment or testimony on what they think of the bill.

The committee debates and votes on whether to approve the bill and send the bill back to the floor (with or without amendments), or to “kill” the bill by keeping it in committee for further debate (“Stuck in committee . . .”)

If the committee approves the bill, it goes to the floor of the originating house where it is read a second time. At this point, any amendments made to the bill are debated by the members of this house of Congress.

After the debate is finished, the bill is read a third time. The members debate again, and vote on the bill.

If the first house passes the bill, it goes to the second house (for example, if the bill started in the House of Representatives, it would then go on to the Senate).

The whole process starts over again in this second house.

If the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, the bill is sent to a conference committee made up of members from both houses to try and reach a compromise on the bill. Both houses must then agree to the compromise by majority vote.

If both houses agree on a final version of the bill, it goes to the president for his or her signature.

The president can 1) sign the bill into law or 2) veto the bill.

If the president vetoes the bill, it is sent back to the Congress. Congress can then re-vote on the bill. If each house of Congress votes to override the veto by a 2/3 majority vote, the bill becomes a law.

Answer 3

Tim, that is too much! I was thinking of that song as soon as I read the question.

Answer 4

you can get a play by play here, in big boy language, but Tim nailed it in words everyone gets.......

http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_law.html

Answer 5

Tim C u r my hero!!

Answer 6

ever see schoolhouse rock??