How a Federal Law is Made:
Before
it becomes law, a piece of legislation is known as a "bill."
A Senator or Congressman can introduce a bill into Congress. It will
then:
Be
sent to the appropriate Congressional committee for review. There it
can be amended, recommended or rejected.
If
the bill is recommended, it is then sent to the floor of Congress for
debate and a vote. On the floor, the bill can be amended.
If
the bill passes one chamber it moves to the other for similar committee
review, debate and a vote.
If
the 2nd chamber amends the bill, it will be sent back to the 1st chamber
for another review. If the two chambers can't agree, the bill may
be sent to a joint committee comprised of members of both chambers in
order to work out a compromise version of the bill. Then the amended
bill is sent back to both chambers for a second vote.
The
President may sign the law or veto (reject) it. His veto may be overriden
by a 2/3 vote in both the Congress and the Senate. If the President
does nothing with the bill, after 10 days it will either become law
(if the congress is in session) or die (if Congress is not in session).
