How a Bill Becomes a Law

  1. A bill is introduced in the House or the Senate.
  2. The bill is referred to a committee and a subcommittee.
  3. The committee and/or the subcommittee hold hearings on the bill.
  4. The committee prepares a committee report and reports the bill to the full House or the Senate.
  5. The bill is debated on the floor of the House or the Senate.
  6. A vote is taken and the bill is passed or defeated.
  7. The same procedure is carried out in the other house.
  8. When both houses have passed related bills, the bills are referred to a conference committee where members agree to a compromised version.
  9. The compromise bill is sent to each house with a conference committee report. A vote is taken and the bill is passed or defeated.
  10. If the bill passes both houses, it is sent to the President.
  11. The bill becomes law if any one of the following conditions is met:
    • President signs the bill; or
    • President takes no action within ten days (excluding Sundays) and Congress is in session; or
    • President vetoes the bill but is overridden by two-thirds vote of each house of Congress.
  12. If the President does not act and Congress adjourns before ten days pass, then the bill dies (pocket veto).


Page maintained by Steve Donweber
Last updated: August 2006