How a bill becomes a law | US government and civics | US government and civics | Khan Academy

Summary

This video explains the process of how bills are passed in the U.S. Congress, detailing the roles of the House of Representatives and the Senate. It outlines the importance of committees, such as the Ways and Means Committee and the Rules Committee, which influence legislation. The journey of a bill begins with its introduction, followed by committee review, voting, and potential presidential approval or veto. The video also highlights the process of reconciling similar bills through conference committees and the role of the Executive Branch in implementing laws. Overall, it offers a comprehensive overview of the legislative process.

Takeaways

• 😀 The U.S. legislative branch consists of two houses: the Senate (100 members) and the House of Representatives (435 members).
• 😀 A bill can be introduced in either the House or the Senate and is identified with unique prefixes (H.R. for House bills and S. for Senate bills).
• 😀 Once introduced, a bill is referred to an appropriate committee for review, which is crucial for its progress.
• 😀 Committees in the House include powerful ones like the Ways and Means Committee (taxation) and the Rules Committee (decides on voting procedures).
• 😀 The Senate has its own committees, such as the Appropriations Committee and the Foreign Relations Committee, which focus on budget and international matters respectively.
• 😀 A bill must be approved by a committee before it can be voted on by the entire chamber (House or Senate).
• 😀 If a bill passes one house, it moves to the other house for consideration and must undergo a similar review process.
• 😀 The President can either sign a bill into law or veto it; Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
• 😀 Conference committees reconcile differences between similar bills passed by both houses before sending a unified bill back for a vote.
• 😀 The legislative process is structured and involves multiple steps, from issue identification to policy adoption, demonstrating the collaborative nature of Congress.

Q & A

What are the two houses of the U.S. Congress?

The two houses of the U.S. Congress are the Senate and the House of Representatives.

How many members are in the Senate, and how are they distributed?

The Senate has 100 members, with two senators from each of the 50 states.

What determines the number of representatives in the House for each state?

The number of representatives in the House for each state is determined by the state's population.

What is the first step for a bill to be passed in Congress?

The first step for a bill to be passed in Congress is its introduction by a member of Congress, usually with the assistance of their aides.

What role do committees play in the legislative process?

Committees review and consider bills before they are voted on by the entire House or Senate, and they play a crucial role in determining which bills advance.

What is the House Ways and Means Committee responsible for?

The House Ways and Means Committee is responsible for legislation related to taxation and revenue generation for the government.

What is the function of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives?

The Rules Committee acts as a 'traffic cop' by deciding which bills go to the floor for a vote and establishing the rules for debate and amendments.

What happens if a bill passes in the House?

If a bill passes in the House, it is sent to the Senate for consideration and must also be voted on there.

What is a conference committee?

A conference committee is a group of both senators and representatives that reconcile differences between similar bills passed by the two houses.

What are the possible outcomes when a bill reaches the President?

When a bill reaches the President, they can sign it into law, veto it, or take no action, which may lead to it becoming law after a specific period.