How A Bill Becomes a Law

To create new laws

To enforce existing laws

To interpret laws

To repeal the Constitution

Private citizens

The White House

Special interest groups

Foreign governments

Suggest passing the bill

Mark up a bill with changes and suggest it be passed

Replace original bill with a new one

Send the bill directly to the President

It is signed by the President

It is sent to a standing committee

It goes to the Supreme Court

It is voted on by both chambers

The House accepts only amendments relevant to the bill, while the Senate allows unrelated amendments (riders).

Both the House and Senate accept only amendments relevant to the bill.

The Senate accepts only amendments relevant to the bill, while the House allows unrelated amendments (riders).

Neither the House nor the Senate allows amendments during debate.

A filibuster allows one member to delay a vote by speaking for long periods.

Cloture is a procedure to end a filibuster and requires 3/5 of the Senate to vote for it.

After cloture is invoked, no one can speak for more than an hour.

Filibusters are common and happen frequently.

It is sent to the other house.

It becomes law immediately.

It is sent to the President.

It is rejected.

To reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

To sign bills into law.

To reject bills.

To amend bills after they become law.

Sign the bill into law

Veto the bill

Do nothing (pocket veto)

Send the bill back to Congress for amendments

The bill dies.

The bill becomes law.

The bill is sent to the Supreme Court.

The bill is sent back to the Conference Committee.