Social Work: Legislature

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Each Congress lasts two years, and is divided into a First Session (the first year) and a Second Session (the second year). The current Congress is 115th running from 2017-2019. 

The House of Representatives represent the people of a single constituency (district). Congressional districts are appointed to states by population using the United States Census results.  For the Senate each state, regardless of population size, has two senators. The following websites provide information about Congress Representatives.

Bills can be written by anyone but they must be introduced by members of Congress. Most bills originate from the Executive branch or interest groups who often draft bills. A proposal is usually in one of these forms:

• Bills are laws in the making. A House-originated bill begins with the letters "H.R." for "House of Representatives", followed by a number kept as it progresses.
• Joint resolutions. There is little difference between a bill and a joint resolution since both are treated similarly; a joint resolution originating from the House, for example, begins "H.J.Res." followed by its number.
• Concurrent Resolutions affect only both the House and Senate and accordingly are not presented to the president for approval later. In the House, they begin with "H.Con.Res."
• Simple resolutions concern only the House or only the Senate and begin with "H.Res." or "S.Res.

When a bill or resolution is introduced in the House or Senate it is assigned a bill or resolution number, the text is printed, and it is assigned to a committee.

1. Bill introduced and referred to committee - BILL AS INTRODUCED
2. Committee hearings held; staff draft research aids for committee  - COMMITTEE HEARING, PRINT
3. Committee mark-up session; bill analyzed and amended
4. Committee report drafted and filed - REPORTED BILL, COMMITTEE REPORT
5. Bill referred to full chamber; terms of floor consideration approved
6. Bill scheduled for full chamber action (floor debate, amendments, votes)
7. Bill debated and amended - DEBATE, VOTES ON AMENDMENTS
8. Final passage - VOTE
9. Bill transmitted to other chamber - ENGROSSED BILL
10. Similar committee and chamber consideration (see steps 1-7)
11. Bill approved as received (to step 17) - DEBATE, VOTE, ENGROSSED BILL or 
    • Bill approved with amendments - DEBATE, VOTE  or
    • Chamber substitutes its own bill - DEBATE, VOTE
12. Bill returned to body of origins - ENGROSSED BILL
13. First chamber agrees to amendments (to step 17) - DEBATE, VOTE, ENGROSSED BILL or 
    • First chamber amends amendments and returns bills to second chamber - DEVATE, VOTE, ENGROSSED BILL or
    • First chamber disagrees with amendments and request a conference  - DEBATE, VOTE
14. Conference negotiations held and compromised agreements reached 
15. Conference report drafted and filed - CONFERENCE BILL, CONFERENCE REPORT
16. Conference report debated and approved by each chamber - DEBATE, VOTE
17. Final bill passed by both chambers delivered to the President within 2-year Congress- ENROLLED BILL
18. President signs or vetoes bill - SIGNING STATEMENT and PUBLIC LAW, VETO STATEMENT
19. If  veto, Congress overrides (with 2/3 vote) or sustains veto - DEBATES, VOTES
20. If veto overridden, vetoed bill enacted -PUBLIC LAW
21. If the President ignores bill (neither signs nor vetoes) for 10 weekdays, bill enacted - PUBLIC LAW 
22.  If the President  ignores bill for 10 weekdays after adjournment at end of a 2-year Congress, bill dies (pocket veto)

"How Our Laws Are Made" created by Mike Wirth and Dr. Suzanne Cooper Guasco work licensed for use under the Creative Commons.