Law - making Process in the United States

The best recognized symbol of democratic government in the world, the United State Capitol has housed Congress since 1800. The Capitol is where Congress meets to write the laws of the nation and where presidents are inaugurated and deliver their annual State of the Union messages. A new Congress session begins on the 3^rd of January each odd number year and continues for two years.

The US Congress, the lawmaking arm of the federal government, consists of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Any congressman in either house, or the president, may initiate new legislation. The two houses have many similarities in organization and procedures, but many differences as well.

The proposed legislation, or bill, is first introduced in the House of Representatives, then referred to one of the standing committees, which organizes hearings on it and may approve, amend or shelve the draft. During a two year term of a Congress, as many as 20000 bills are introduced. If the committee passes the bill, it is considered by the House of Representatives as a whole. If passed there, it goes to the Senate for a similar sequence of committee hearings and general debate. There are 16 “standing” or permanent committees in the Senate, and 22 in the House. They accept and improve some bills, but reject most of them.

In cases of disagreement, members of both houses work together in “conference committees” if the chambers have passed different versions of the same bill. Groups who try to persuade Congressmen to vote for or against a bill are known as “lobbies”. When both Houses of Congress pass a bill on which they agree, it is sent to the President for his signature. If President is disapproves, he vetoes and refusing to sign it, and sends it back to Congress. President’s objection are read and debated. To overcome the President’s veto, the bill must get a 2/3 majority in each chamber.