In order for a bill a legislator proposes to pass through Congress it goes through the following process:
- The bill falls in hands of a Committee or Subcommittee of Congress. These are groups of members of Congress that discuss specific topics regarding the nation. A hearing regarding the bill is scheduled. Witnesses can be called upon to testify as to why the bill is necessary.
- After the hearings are held, members of the subcommittee vote on the bill. If the bill passes, it then goes to the Committee.
- The bill will go through another voting in the Committee, after the debate. If it passes it goes to The House of Representatives.
- At the House of Representatives, it is debated upon by all members of Congress. A second reading of the bill is done after this first round of debate. Amendments of the bill may be offered and debated upon at the Committee of the Whole.
- If the bill, in fact, has amendments put upon it by the Committee of the Whole, it then passes to the House for a round of voting.
- After passing the voting in the House of Representatives, it goes to the Senate. Here, it can be also amended and rescheduled for voting.
- At this point, the bill is checked by both the House of Representatives and The Senate. If there are notable differences between the bills both houses passed, a Conference is called upon. Here a number of representatives from both houses discuss the differences.
- If an agreement is reached at the Conference it then passes to the President for his signature. The president can either veto it and push it back to Congress or approve it. If the President approves it, then it becomes a Law.
