How a Bill Becomes a Law

Welcome to the chamber! I'm Justice, and today we're going behind the scenes of one of the most important machines in democracy — the process that turns an idea into a law. Every law starts as a BILL — a written proposal for a new rule. In the U.S. federal system, only members of Congress (that means representatives in the House or senators in the Senate) can officially introduce a bill. But citizens, businesses, or the President can ask lawmakers to write one. Once a bill is introduced, it goes to a COMMITTEE — a small group of experts in that topic. The committee studies the bill, holds hearings (where people share opinions and evidence), and may rewrite parts of it. If the committee approves, the bill moves to the full chamber for DEBATE AND VOTE. Members discuss its strengths and weaknesses, propose amendments (official changes to the bill's text), and then vote. A bill needs a simple majority (more than half) to pass one chamber. Here's the catch: a bill must pass BOTH the House AND the Senate — often in slightly different versions. A conference committee — made up of members from both chambers — then reconciles the differences into one final version, and both chambers vote again. Finally, the bill goes to the PRESIDENT. The President has three choices: (1) Sign it — the bill becomes law. (2) Veto it — send it back with objections. (3) Do nothing — after 10 days it becomes law automatically, unless Congress has adjourned, in which case it is a 'pocket veto.' If the President vetoes, Congress can OVERRIDE the veto with a two-thirds supermajority vote in both chambers. That's a high bar — it doesn't happen often! The key idea: lawmaking is slow and deliberate on purpose. Multiple checkpoints mean bad or rushed ideas are less likely to become law.