In today’s Civics 101 column, I’m exploring what happens when citizens or elected officials feel a certain law should be updated or needs to be changed or gotten rid of totally. Of course, there’s a process.
Laws begin as ideas. First, a representative sponsors a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee for study. If released by the committee, the bill is put on a calendar to be voted on, debated, or amended. If the bill passes by a simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate. In the Senate, the bill is assigned to another committee and, if released, debated and voted on. Again, a simple majority (51 of 100) passes the bill. Finally, a conference committee made of House and Senate members works out any differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The resulting bill returns to the House and Senate for final approval. The Government Printing Office prints the revised bill in a process called enrolling. The President has 10-days to sign or veto the enrolled bill.
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Thank you for reading Thera Martin’s article on scoopnewsusa.com. For more on “How does a LAW get changed or dropped”, please subscribe to SCOOP USA Media. Print subscriptions are $75 and online subscriptions (Print, Digital, and VIZION) are $90. (52 weeks / 1 year).
