How a bill becomes a law

Idea

House

Senate

Bill, Intro procedures

Bill, intro procedures

Committee; sub-committee

"committee action"

Vote on bill

On to Senate

Process repeats from "intro procedures"

Committee; sub-committee

"committee action"

Vote on bill

On to House

Conference Committee

Vote in both houses

On to President

Sign

Doesn't sign for 10 days Congress is in session

Pocket Veto: Doesn't sign for 10 days Congress is not in session

Vetoes

President writes list of reasons

Sends back to the House and Senate

2/3 of House and Senate vote yes

2/3 of House and Senate don't vote yes

It's a law!

Considered "dead"

The whole house votes. 2/3 of it must vote yes in order to continue to the next step. If 2/3 don't vote yes, the bill is considered dead and can never become a law.