Crash Course: How a Bill Becomes a Law

Introduction

• Presenter: Craig from Crash Course Government and Politics
• Purpose: Explanation of how a bill becomes a law in the U.S.
• Reference to historical educational content: Schoolhouse Rock song

The Bill Introduction Process

• Origin of a Bill:
  • Idea can come from interest groups, executive branch, or constituents
  • Formal process begins with a legislator introducing the bill
• Introduction in Congress:
  • Bill starts in either House or Senate (revenue bills start in House)
  • Example: Bill on naming helicopters, starting in the Senate

Committee Stage

• Committee Referral:
  • Assigned to relevant committee (e.g., Senate Armed Services Committee)
  • Markup process: Committee writes the bill in formal legal language
• Committee Vote:
  • Majority needed for the bill to move to the Senate floor

Senate Floor Consideration

• Debate Rules:
  • Senate decides debate rules (open or closed rule)
  • Open rule allows amendments, increasing difficulty of passing
• Senate Vote:
  • Majority needed for passage

House of Representatives Process

• Rules Committee:
  • All bills must go through this committee before reaching the House floor
• House Vote:
  • Requires 238 or more votes to pass

Reconciliation and Presidential Action

• Conference Committee:
  • Reconciles different versions of the bill from both Houses
  • Creates a compromise bill
• Presidential Actions:
  • Sign the bill into law
  • Veto the bill (Congress can override with a two-thirds majority)
  • Pocket veto if Congress adjourns within 10 days
• Automatic Law: If not signed or vetoed within 10 days and Congress is in session

Challenges in Lawmaking

• Veto Gates:
  • Multiple stages where a bill can be blocked
  • Leadership can refuse to refer or schedule bills
• Filibuster:
  • Senate-specific; can be used to delay or block bills
• Committee and House Actions:
  • Bills can die in committee or through lack of House Rules
• Veto Override:
  • Rare; requires two-thirds majority in both Houses
• Procedural Hurdles:
  • Designed to ensure broad agreement or handle uncontroversial issues

Conclusion

• The lawmaking process is intentionally cumbersome to avoid authoritarian rule
• Structural hurdles in Congress and Presidential role help prevent tyrannical laws
• Designed dysfunctionality to ensure thorough vetting and consensus

Key Insight: The U.S. legislative process is complex by design to prevent easy passage of potentially harmful laws.