How a Federal Bill Becomes Law

The basics

• Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill. The idea can come from anyone, including citizens and groups who bring it to their representative.
• A committee studies the bill, debates it and can change it. If the committee approves it, the full chamber debates and votes. Then the other chamber goes through the same steps.
• Both the House and Senate must pass the exact same text. If their versions differ, they work out the differences, sometimes in a conference committee, and vote again.
• The president can sign the bill into law or veto it. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.
• If the president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days (Sundays not counted), it becomes law anyway. But if Congress has adjourned so the bill can't be returned, it dies. That's a pocket veto.

Why it matters to you

Knowing the steps shows you when and where to speak up about federal laws. States use a similar process, but details like the governor's veto powers vary, so check your state legislature's website.

Myth vs. fact

What you can do

• Follow a bill you care about on congress.gov to see which step it has reached.
• Contact your U.S. representative or senators about a bill while it is still being studied in committee.
• Learn how bills move in your state with the Civic Ladder lesson on state lawmaking.