Constitutional Law-I

How a bill becomes a law

in U.S.?
by
(Waqas Qadeer Shaikh)
 ROLE OF U.S.
CONGRESS IN LAW
MAKING
The U.S. Congress plays a
central role in law making
as the legislative branch
of the federal government.
The process of making
laws involves both the
Senate and the House of
Representatives working
together to propose,
debate, and pass bills.
Here is a detailed
explanation of the role of
the U.S. Congress in law
making:
1. Bill Introduction

• The process of law making

typically begins when a
member of Congress
introduces a bill. A bill can
be proposed on a wide
range of issues, from
healthcare and education to
national security and
environmental protection.
 2. Committee
Review
• Once a bill is introduced, it
is referred to the relevant
committee in the chamber
where it was introduced.
Committees are specialized
groups of members with
expertise in specific policy
areas. They conduct
thorough reviews of the bill,
hold hearings to gather
expert testimony, and
analyze its potential impact.
 3. Mark-up and
Amendments
• During the committee
review, the bill may undergo
mark-up sessions, where
committee members
propose amendments to the
original text. These
amendments can modify,
add, or delete provisions of
the bill. After mark-up, the
committee votes on whether
to send the bill to the full
chamber for consideration
or not.
4. Floor Debate and
Voting
• Once the bill is reported out
of the committee, it moves
to the full chamber (Senate
or House) for floor debate
and voting. Members of
Congress can discuss the
bill, voice their opinions,
and offer further
amendments. After the
debate, the bill is put to a
vote.
 5. Passing the Bill
in One Chamber
• If the bill receives a simple
majority of votes in favour,
it is passed in the chamber
where it originated.
However, if the bill is
rejected, it does not proceed
any further. If the bill
passes, it moves to the
other chamber, where the
process is repeated.
 6. Conference
Committee
• If both chambers pass
slightly different versions of
the same bill, a conference
committee may be
appointed to reconcile the
differences. The committee
members negotiate and
agree on a final version of
the bill that can then be
sent back to both chambers
for a final vote.
 7. Presidential
Approval

• Once both the Senate and the House

of Representatives pass the identical
version of the bill, it is sent to the
President for approval. The President
has following options:

– Signing the Bill

– Vetoing the Bill
– Taking No Action

If the President signs the bill, it

becomes law. If the President
vetoes the bill, Congress can
override the veto with a two-thirds
majority vote in both chambers. If
he takes no action, the bill
becomes law after ten days,
excluding Sundays.
 8. Implementation
and Enforcement

• After the President signs the

bill into law or Congress
successfully overrides a veto,
the bill becomes law. Federal
agencies and departments are
responsible for implementing
and enforcing the law,
ensuring its provisions are
carried out effectively.
 Conclusion

• US Congress possesses a wide

range of powers that enable it to
carry out its constitutional
duties effectively. These powers
include lawmaking, budget
allocation, oversight of the
executive branch, and the
authority to address matters
related to foreign policy and
national security. As a co-equal
branch of government,
Congress plays a vital role in
the checks and balances
system, ensuring the proper
functioning of democratic
governance in the United
States.