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== How Laws are Made ==

== How Laws are Made ==

The basic process for passing federal law is as follows: A committee in the House of Representatives drafts a new statute.  If the committee approves the bill, then it is sent to the House Rules Committee, which will dictate the rules for debate and amendment by the full House prior to a vote.  If it ultimately passes the full House, it then proceeds to a committee in the Senate, which may revise it before approving or rejecting it.  If the Senate committee approves it, perhaps in revised form, then it goes to the full Senate for passage.  Amendments may be proposed by any senator, and any senator may try to block by a vote by arguing indefinitely (this is known as a filibuster).  In the Senate, 60 votes are necessary to end a filibuster and force a final vote.   

The basic process for passing a federal law is as follows: A committee in the House of Representatives drafts a new statute, and typically holds a public hearing about the proposed law.  Experts and members of the public are allowed to testify about the proposed law at the hearing, and this becomes part of the legislative history for the law if it eventually passes, which can be used by courts in interpreting what the law means.

 

If the committee approves the bill, then it is sent to the House Rules Committee, which will dictate the rules for debate and amendment by the full House prior to a vote.  If it ultimately passes the full House, it then proceeds to a committee in the Senate, which may revise it before approving or rejecting it.  If the Senate committee approves it, perhaps in revised form, then it goes to the full Senate for passage.  Amendments may be proposed by any senator, and any senator may try to block by a vote by arguing indefinitely (this is known as a filibuster).  In the Senate, 60 votes are necessary to end a filibuster and force a final vote.   

If it passes the Senate, then it is compared to the House version.  If they were identical, then it proceeds directly to the president for approval or rejection.  But if the House and Senate versions are different, then it must go to a specially appointed joint committee representing both chambers. They attempt to resolve the differences and present an identical version for new approval by the House and Senate.  If the revised version is approved by both the House and Senate, it then goes to the president.

If it passes the Senate, then it is compared to the House version.  If they were identical, then it proceeds directly to the president for approval or rejection.  But if the House and Senate versions are different, then it must go to a specially appointed joint committee representing both chambers. They attempt to resolve the differences and present an identical version for new approval by the House and Senate.  If the revised version is approved by both the House and Senate, it then goes to the president.