Does Congress or the Senate Make Laws?

One of the most common questions we receive at the Center for Legislative Archives is “Does Congress or the Senate make laws?” The answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Checkout this video:

Does Congress or the Senate make laws?

The answer to this question is a little complicated. In the simplest terms, Congress makes laws and the Senate approves them. But there is a lot of important work that happens between those two steps.

The first step in the law-making process is for Congress to come up with an idea for a law. This can happen in a number of ways, but most often it starts with a member of Congress proposing an idea, called a bill. If the member thinks there is enough support for the bill, they will introduce it to Congress.

Once a bill is introduced, it goes to what is called a committee. Committees are small groups of Congress members who specialize in different areas, like education or taxes. The committee decides if the bill should move forward to the full House or Senate.

If the committee decides that the bill should move forward, it will “mark up” the bill. This means that the committee makes changes to the bill before it goes to the full House or Senate. Once the committee is finished making changes, the bill goes to what is called “floor action.”

Floor action is when the full House or Senate debate and vote on the bill. If both the House and Senate pass the same version of the bill, it goes to the President to be signed into law. If one chamber passes a version of the bill and the other chamber passes a different version, then members from both chambers meet to try to agree on one version of the bill that both chambers can pass.

This process can seem slow and complicated, but it ensures that laws are thoroughly vetted before they are passed. It also allows for input from different members of Congress who might have expertise or insight into a particular issue.

How do laws get made?

Laws in the United States begin as bills. A bill is an idea for a law that is proposed by a senator or member of the House of Representatives. If the bill passes in both the House and Senate, it is then sent to the president. The president can either sign the bill, which makes it a law, or veto it. If the president vetoes the bill, it does not become a law unless two-thirds of Congress votes to override the president’s veto.

Who makes laws in the United States?

The Congress is responsible for creating and passing federal laws. The Senate and the House of Representatives draft, debate, and vote on proposed legislation. If both the Senate and the House approve a bill, it is then sent to the President for approval. If the President vetoes a bill, it can still become law if two-thirds of both houses of Congress vote to override the veto.

The process of making a law

The process of making a law is long and complicated. It starts with an idea, which is then proposed as a bill. The bill is then debated by Congress and, if it passes, it goes to the Senate. If the Senate passes the bill, it becomes a law.

How a bill becomes a law

The process of making a federal law is a lengthy one, and it involves several steps. The first step is for a bill to be created. Bills can originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate, and they must be passed by both houses before becoming law.

Once a bill has been created, it must be voted on by the House and Senate. If it passes both houses, it will then go to the President for signature. If the President vetoes the bill, it will return to Congress for reconsideration. If both houses pass the bill again with a two-thirds majority, it will become law regardless of the President’s wishes.

Who proposes laws in Congress?

In the United States, Congress is the legislative body consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and declare war, the power to confirm or reject presidential appointments, and substantial investigative powers.

How does Congress vote on laws?

The answer to this question is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no. Both the Senate and the House of Representatives must pass a bill before it can become a law. However, the process by which each chamber votes on legislation is different.

In the Senate, each bill is typically read aloud and then debated. Senators can offer amendments to the bill during this time. Once debate is finished, the Senate will vote on the bill. If it passes by a simple majority (51 out of 100 senators), the bill goes to the House of Representatives.

In the House, bills are usually not debated before they are voted on. Instead, they go through a process called “mark-up” where members of the House committee that deals with the bill’s topic make changes to it. Once mark-up is finished, the whole House votes on the bill. If it passes, it goes to the Senate.

If both chambers pass the same version of a bill, it goes to the president to be signed into law. If one chamber passes a bill and the other chamber does not, then nothing happens and the bill dies.

What happens after Congress passes a law?

Once Congress passes a law, it goes to the President for approval. If the President approves of the law, he or she will sign it and it will become official. If the President does not approve of the law, he or she can veto it. This means that the law will not go into effect unless Congress overrides the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

How does the President sign a law?

After Congress has passed a bill, it is sent to the President. The President may sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action. If the President vetoes the bill, it is sent back to Congress with a message explaining the reasons for the veto. If Congress is in session, it may try to override the veto by passing the bill again with a two-thirds vote in both houses. If this happens, the bill becomes a law without the President’s signature. If Congress is not in session when the President vetoes a bill, or if Congress does not override a veto, the bill does not become a law.

What happens if the President vetoes a law?

If the President vetoes a bill, it goes back to Congress. If two-thirds of both houses of Congress then vote for the bill (an override), the President’s veto is overridden and the bill becomes a law.

Scroll to Top