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Laws are created through a process that involves multiple steps at both the federal and state levels. Understanding this process helps clarify how rules become official and affect daily life.
The Federal Law-Making Process
At the federal level, laws start as ideas called bills. These bills are introduced in Congress, which has two parts: the House of Representatives and the Senate. Both parts must agree on the bill for it to become law.
The process involves several steps: committee review, debates, and votes. If both the House and Senate approve the bill, it moves to the President. The President can sign it into law or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
The State Law-Making Process
States have their own legislatures, which often include a House and a Senate. Similar to the federal process, bills are introduced, reviewed, debated, and voted on within these chambers. If approved, the bill goes to the governor.
The governor can sign the bill into law or veto it. Some states allow the legislature to override a veto with a majority vote, similar to the federal process. Once signed or overridden, the bill becomes a state law.
Key Steps in Law Making
- Proposal of a bill
- Committee review and debate
- Voting in legislative chambers
- Approval by the executive (President or governor)
- Becoming law