Bill

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

• Bills Committees of the Legislative Council

New Zealand

• List of current bills

United Kingdom

A graphic representation of the legislative procedure.

• BBC Parliament Guide:
  • Making new law
  • Types of bill
  • Bill procedure
  • First reading
  • Second reading
  • Commons committee stage
  • Lords committee stage
  • Report stage
  • Third reading
  • Passage through the other House
  • Royal assent
  • Delegated legislation

United States

• How a law is made. From the North Carolina General Assembly
• How a bill becomes a law - related information
• Bill search

India

• The Indian Constitution
• Government of India Laws

References