Definition
The legislative process includes drafting, introduction, committee referral, hearings, markup, floor debate, amendment, voting, resolution of House-Senate differences, and presidential action.
Political Dictionary
Legislative Process
The legislative process is the sequence through which Congress considers and enacts laws.
Why It Matters
Understanding the process explains why lawmaking is often slow, negotiated, and subject to multiple veto points.
How It Works
A measure must normally pass both chambers in identical form and be signed by the president, become law without signature, or survive a veto override.
History
The process developed from constitutional requirements and centuries of chamber rules and precedents.
Example
A bill may pass the House, be amended by the Senate, return to the House, and then go to the president.
Common Misconceptions
- Every bill follows exactly the same path.
- Committee approval guarantees enactment.
- The president votes on bills in Congress.
Related Terms
Related Topics
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