Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog

Only a member of Congress can start a piece of legislation on the “road” to becoming a law. Officially, the process begins when the bill (or resolution) is given a number, with H.R. standing for House of Representatives and S. for Senate (the two Chambers).

1. Bill is referred to a standing committee in House or Senate
2. Committee might consider it, or might refer it to a sub-committee. Non-action is death to the bill.
3. Sub-committee might have a Hearing for the purpose of recording the views of all interested parties.
4. Sub-committee might change the bill based on Hearing information. Will either recommend it to the full committee or not, and if not, the bill dies.
5. Full committee might hold another Hearing or vote on the sub-committee’s recommendations, and then “order the bill reported” to the House or Senate.
6. Committee chairman has a report written up, covering the bill’s scope and intent, and everyone’s views.
7. Bill is placed on House or Senate calendar. House has several calendars and can kill a bill by not putting it on any calendar.
8. House or Senate debates bill according to certain rules, and may amend it.
9. House of Senate votes on bill.
10. Bill is referred to the other Chamber where it goes through a repeat of the above steps. If no steps are taken, bill is dead.
11. If changes are minor, bill goes back to other Chamber for agreement. If major, a conference committee is formed to reconcile differences. Lack of reconciliation kills the bill. Otherwise, a conference report is written to describe any recommendations. Both Chambers must approve it.
12. If approved, bill sent to President, who either signs it into law or vetoes it. President could also kill the bill with a “pocket veto” – taking no action after Congress has adjourned its second session.
13. If vetoed, Congress might try to override the veto, which requires a quorum and a two-thirds roll call vote.

Looking at all these steps and all the spots where a bill can be killed, it is not surprising that many bills never make it into law. But these steps also protect us from a dictatorship, at least in theory. The above information is courtesy of the American Motorcycle Association.

If you need an experienced motorcycle attorney and are in Connecticut, please contact the Law Firm of Trantolo & Trantolo.