- For other uses, see Bill.
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Numbering of bills in the United States
All bills originating in the U.S. House of Representatives begin with "H.R." and all bills originating from the U.S. Senate begin with an "S".
In the United States, bills can have the same number because every two years, at the start of odd-numbered years, the United States Congress recommences numbering from 1. Each two-year span is called a Congress, and each Congress is divided into year-long periods called sessions.[1]
Approval
Bills passed by the legislature usually require the approval (often called assent, especially in constitutional monarchies) of the executive such as the monarch, president, or governor to become law.[2]
In parliamentary systems, this is normally a formality (since the executive is under the de facto control of the legislature), although in rare cases approval may be refused or reserved.
In presidential systems, the need to receive approval can be used as a political tool by the executive, and its refusal is known as a veto. In presidential systems, the legislature often has the power to override the veto of the executive by means of a supermajority.
In constitutional monarchies, certain matters may be covered by a so-called royal prerogative. In the United Kingdom, for example, these include payments to the royal family, succession to the throne, and the monarch's exercise of prerogative powers. The legislature may have significantly less power to introduce bills on such issues and may require the approval of the monarch or government of the day.
See also
- List of legislatures by country (most legislature articles have information on their processes)
- Resolution (law)
- White paper
External links
Hong Kong
New Zealand
United Kingdom
- BBC Parliament Guide:
United States
- How a law is made. From the North Carolina General Assembly
- How a bill becomes a law - related information
- Bill search
India
References
- ^ "GovTrack: Search Legislation in Congress". GovTrack.us. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billsearch.xpd. Retrieved 2009-03-30.
- ^ http://www.parliament.uk/about/how/laws/bills.cfm
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