The Legislative Process

Front

What is the first step in the legislative process?

Back

The bill is drafted by any member of Congress who has an idea for a law.

Front

Who can draft a bill?

Back

Any member of Congress, either from the Senate or the House of Representatives.

Front

What is a 'sponsor' in the context of a bill?

Back

The primary Congress member supporting the bill.

Front

What happens after a bill is drafted?

Back

The bill is introduced in either the House or the Senate, depending on whether a Representative or Senator is the sponsor.

Front

Where can introduced bills be found?

Back

On Congress.gov, the official government website that tracks federal legislation.

Front

What happens to a bill after it is introduced?

Back

It is referred to a committee for examination and to determine its chances of passage.

Front

What is the role of a committee in the legislative process?

Back

To examine the bill, hold hearings, and determine its chances of passage.

Front

What happens if a committee does not act on a bill?

Back

The bill is considered to be 'dead'.

Front

What is a subcommittee's role in the legislative process?

Back

To study the bill further, hold their own hearings, and make changes before voting to refer it back to the full committee.

Front

What does 'mark up' a bill mean?

Back

The committee makes changes and amendments to the bill before recommending it to the floor.