Federal Legislative Process in the United States

A federal bill becomes law in the United States through approval by Congress and the constitutional process involving the President. Under Article I, Section 7, a bill must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate in identical form before it is presented to the President, who may sign it, veto it, or allow the constitutional time limit to operate.

Introduction and consideration in Congress

Congress is bicameral, so a proposal normally needs the agreement of two separately constituted chambers. The President may recommend legislation, but members of Congress formally introduce bills.

• A bill may generally originate in either chamber, but bills for raising revenue must originate in the House of Representatives; the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.
• Bills are ordinarily referred to committees, which examine proposals and may hold hearings, amend their text, and recommend action.
• Each chamber considers the bill under its own procedural rules; committee approval alone does not make a bill law.

Agreement between the two chambers

Both chambers must approve identical text. Passage in one chamber does not bind the other, which may reject the bill or amend it.

• Differences may be resolved through an exchange of amendments or a conference committee drawn from both chambers.
• Any compromise text must receive approval in both chambers before being presented to the President.
• Unlike the Indian procedure available for certain legislative deadlocks, the US Constitution provides no joint sitting to pass a disputed bill.

Presidential action and enactment

After passage by Congress, the bill is presented to the President. The Constitution provides four possible outcomes.

• If the President signs the bill, it becomes law.
• If the President returns it with objections, Congress may reconsider it; a two-thirds vote in each chamber overrides the veto and makes the bill law without presidential approval.
• If the President neither signs nor returns it within ten days, excluding Sundays, it becomes law, provided Congress has not prevented its return by adjournment.
• If congressional adjournment prevents its return and the President does not sign it within that period, it does not become law. This is the pocket veto, which Congress cannot override; legislation must be introduced and passed afresh.