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  How Laws Are Made

How Does a Bill Become a Law?
Begin
Propose
Introduce
Committee
Subcommittee
Report
Consider
Vote
Refer to Senate
Bill Is Enrolled
Law OR Veto
Veto Override
Subcommittee Action cartoon


Subcommittee Action

  • The bill is referred to a subcommittee, and placed on its calendar.
  • The bill is carefully studied. The subcommittee may hold hearings to obtain the views of experts, supporters, and opponents.
  • The bill is tabled when the subcommittee deems it unwise or unnecessary.
  • If changes are needed, the subcommittee will meet to mark up the bill.
  • Subcommittee members vote to accept or reject the changes.
  • If the subcommittee accepts the bill, the bill is sent back to the full committee for approval or rejection.
  • THOMAS, from the Library of Congress website, receives updates on the status of the bill from the subcommittee and posts the most recent major action on the bill.
 
Parents & Teachers
Tools for Learning

Did You Know?
A Little Known Fact
High-school-aged Congressional Pages deliver important messages to Members in the House Chamber.

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Currently on the House Floor
History is being made right now on the House Floor!

Glossary Terms
Key Words
Use the glossary to learn key terms.

Act
Amendment
Bill
Calendar
Checks and Balances
Clean Bill
Committee of the Whole
Concurrent Resolution
Constituent
Constitution
Electronic Voting Machine
Engrossed Bill
Enrolled Bill
Hearing
Hopper
Joint Resolution
Jurisdiction
Law
Legislative Day
Line-Item Veto
Markup
Measure
Override (a veto)
Pocket Veto
Private Bill
Public Law
Quorum
Report
Resolution
Simple Resolution
Sine Die
Tabling Motion
Veto



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