Bill Becomes a Law by Chloe Sun

Bill Proposal

csun00 — 2025-06-18 19:41:48 UTC

National and state governments should be completely responsible for funding college tuitions for students who want to get a higher education.

1. Introducing a Bill

csun00 — 2025-06-18 19:47:02 UTC

In order to introduce a bill, the person must be a part of the US congress. This means that they have to either be in the House of Representatives or they must have a job in the Senate. The person must have a solid idea, write it in legal formatting/draft it to explain their proposal and how it will work, and then introduce it to Congress.

2. Proposing to Congress

csun00 — 2025-06-18 19:48:48 UTC

Once the bill is introduced, it is labeled accordingly and then the bill will be directed to the government committee that it best suits.

3. Committee Review

csun00 — 2025-06-18 19:51:51 UTC

The bill will be sent to its corresponding committee. In this case, it will be the Educational Committee. A committee in the government is where a small group of people in both the senate and the house of representatives group together and are designated to review and delegate bills in specific fields/areas. Some committees include the Agricultural, Educational, and Defensive.

Different Kinds of Committees

csun00 — 2025-06-18 19:55:38 UTC

Standing- long term and permanent congressional committees that focus on big issues/topics in American society. Usually made up of congressional people who have prior background or knowledge on these topics.

Joint- committees that have people from both the house and the senate. Made up of people who have experience and who have common knowledge on the topic.

Conference- short term and temporary group that combines two separate bills that have been approved from the house and the senate and then works to compromise to combine the two different versions. Made up of congress people who worked on the bill before it was approved.

Select- group that focuses on very detailed and highly specific issues when needed. Given to congress people who are interested in those topics.

How To Get On A Committee

csun00 — 2025-06-18 20:00:55 UTC

In order to get onto a committee, a congressperson must request to be placed on a specific one that is either suitable to their knowledge and background or is something that they are able to advocate for because they place a high amount of importance on it.

Why Are There So Many Committees?

csun00 — 2025-06-18 20:02:56 UTC

The answer is really simple. There are so many bills to be proposed and revised everyday that it is easier for the government to divide and conquer. Simply put, it is so that people are able to focus on specific ideas and bills who are also more qualified. It makes it easier to get bills passed and reviewed which improves efficiency.

How is Voting Held in Congress?

csun00 — 2025-06-18 20:08:58 UTC

In both, they both use several possible options. There is a roll call vote where people stand to show what they want to vote for. The house of reps often uses an digital vote while the senate uses a talking/roll call vote. The house of representatives usually is faster because they have more people and then the Senate takes longer because they can talk and propose their bill for as long as they want whereas the house of reps has a limited time frame depending on what the rules committee lays out for them for the proposal. They are also both not required to vote but it is their job and also it could put their reputation on the line so they should. However, sometimes people do not vote because it could be a super risky bill that is controversial or something they feel uncomfortable voting on.

What Happens Before a Vote?

csun00 — 2025-06-18 20:23:52 UTC

They must introduce the bill.
The bill is given to a specific committee
The Rules committee decides the rules outlined for the debate in the house of reps. the senate can talk for as long as they want to.
The congresspeople debate for the time they are given/as long as they need.
Someone tells them that it's time to vote.
Typically the house and the senate don't vote at the same time because the bill originates from one place not two, and it also only gets given to the other chamber after getting approved.

Why Do Members Vote The Way They Do?

csun00 — 2025-06-18 20:26:48 UTC

Members typically vote what their party expects them to vote for several reasons, including political/social obligation, loyalty to their beliefs and political party, personal beliefs, how they feel the bill will impact their party's future, and also political pressure.