After both the House and Senate have approved a bill in identical form, the bill is sent to the President. If the President approves of the legislation, it is signed and becomes law. If the President takes no action for ten days while Congress is in session, the bill automatically becomes law.
Q. How do you propose a bill to Congress?
A bill can be introduced in either chamber of Congress by a senator or representative who sponsors it. Once a bill is introduced, it is assigned to a committee whose members will research, discuss, and make changes to the bill. The bill is then put before that chamber to be voted on.
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Q. What must happen for a bill to pass?
First, a representative sponsors a bill. If the bill passes by simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate. In the Senate, the bill is assigned to another committee and, if released, debated and voted on. Again, a simple majority (51 of 100) passes the bill.
Q. Which of the two houses has to pass a bill before it can become a law?
A Bill can originate from either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate and is the most common form of legislation. To become a law the bill must be approved by both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and requires the Presidents approval.
Q. What are the two basic types of bills?
Bill: Originating in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, there are two types of bills—public and private. Public bills affect the general public while private bills affect a specific individual or group. In order to become law, bills must be approved by both Chambers and the President.
Q. Do all bills have to start in the House?
The Origination Clause, sometimes called the Revenue Clause, is Article I, Section 7, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution. The clause says that all bills for raising revenue must start in the U.S. House of Representatives, but the U.S. Senate may propose or concur with amendments, as in the case of other bills.
