How a Law is made
The Proposal
A representative writes a bill and gets support from others in the House.
Step 1
To the President!
Finally, the bill lands on the president’s desk.
Step 9
How many Senators are there from each state?
2
What determines how many Representatives there are for each state?
The states population
The Compromise
Members of the House and Senate form a “conference committee” to work out a compromise bill that both chambers can accept.
Step 7
The Vote
If changes are made, the bill is read again. Then, the House votes on the bill. Representatives can vote yes, no, or present (if they don’t want to vote on that particular bill).
Step 5
How long do you have to live in that state for to become a Senator?
9 years
How old do you have to be to become a Representative?
25 years old
Another Vote
The House and Senate each vote on the compromise bill. The bill can’t move on unless both chambers pass the exact same version.
Step 8
The Floor Debate
In the House chamber, members debate whether to support or oppose the bill. The bill is read again, and members suggest changes.
Step 4
Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to become Senator?
Yes 👍
How many years is one term?
2 years
The Committee Report
The bill is sent to a committee for a close review. If the committee approves, the bill will be sent to all members of the House.
Step 3
How old do you have to be to become a Senator?
30 years old
How long do you have to be a Resident of a state for?
7 years
The Hand-Off
The bill is sent to the Senate, where it goes through the same debate. Often, changes are made, and the Senate votes to approve the bill with the changes.
Step 6
The Introduction
The bill is assigned a number and is read aloud on the House floor.
Step 2
How many years is one term?
6 years
Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to become Representative?
Yes 👍