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The Legislative Process

The following is the typical path for a bill in the U.S. House or Senate:

1. The bill is introduced and referred to the appropriate committee.
2. The committee holds hearings on the bill and refers it to the appropriate subcommittee.
3. The subcommittee with jurisdiction over the bill makes changes to it by offering amendments and recommending consideration by the full committee.
4. The bill moves to the full committee where additional amendments are offered before approval for floor consideration.
5. The bill comes to the floor where amendments can be offered. Senate rules usually permit greater latitude than House rules in offering amendments.
6. Members of Congress vote on each amendment to the bill, and then vote on the bill as it was amended.
7. The bill moves to the other house of Congress for approval.
8. If the bill passes both the House and Senate, it goes to Conference Committee where representatives from both chambers work out any differences between the two versions of the bill.
9. Once the differences are resolved, the House and Senate vote on the final bill, or conference report.
10. If both chambers approve the bill, it goes to the President to sign or veto.
11. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law.
12. If the President vetoes the bill, both chambers of Congress can try to override that veto with a two-thirds majority vote.