Steps into Making a Bill into Law

There are many steps in making a bill into a law. The easiest one would be drafting a bill. Anyone can draft a bill, but only a congressman can introduce the bill to legislation, and, by doing this they become the bill’s sponsor or sponsors. A member of the cabinet or the head of a federal agency can also submit an act, however only a member of congress can introduce it. After the bill is introduces it is assigned a number that begins with H.R for House of Representatives or S for Senate.
After the bill is introduced it is sent to committee. The committee isn’t forced to act on a bill, the only way for a member to get the bill out of committee to use a discharge petition. The committee may hold discussions regarding bill. The bill is looked over, it can be changed, things may be added to it or taken away, or it will go through as is. If committee takes no action towards the bill or decides it doesn’t fit, a decision to not act on it will “kill” the bill. This is where the discharge petition will come in handy to take the bill out of committee.
Following committee review the bill would normally go to mark-up. But often, bills are sent to a subcommittee for consideration and debate. Subcommittees often hold hearings. At these hearings anyone is allowed to attend. The purpose of these hearings is to allow supporters of the bill to give testimony on support of the bill either in person or by writing.
After the hearings are concluded the subcommittee may decide to recommend a bill back to the full committee for approval. The subcommittee may meet to make changes and amendments to the bill, this process is called mark up. However if the subcommittee votes to not report a bill back to the full committee, the bill dies in “mark- up”.
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...ent, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote; the Chair announced that the ayes had overruled. Mr. Feeney urged a documented vote and further proceedings on the ratification of the amendment were delayed until later in the legislative day.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Smith (TX) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, the Chair announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Smith (TX) demanded a recorded vote and further proceedings on the adoption of the amendment were postponed until later in the legislative day.
As the proceedings resumed The Chair declared the Committee of the Whole would now continue on the question of the modification of the revisions. And finally April 30, 2003 H.R 1104 of the 108th Congress finally passed in to Public Law No: 108-21.