Sunday, April 12, 2009

How are laws created in the US? How can a person push a new law to be made?

Want to know what a normal, everyday person needs to do in order to try to get a new law created? Thank you!


The basic process of converting an idea, into a bill and eventually into a law requires the following steps.

Some one has to initiate this process, which could even be you. In order to do this you would need to justify the need for creating such a law. This could be through a pettition signed by other concerned citizens such as yourself, to support your idea. You would need enough signatures to demand a hearing with your local elected officials such as a Congressman/woman or a Senator.

At this hearing you will be given the opportunity to talk about your idea, or stress the importance of your idea to be made into a law. These people will either try to talk you out of it if they are not convinced. Or, if indeed your idea is a good one, will take it to the next level.

The next level usually requires them to lobby for this bill in various Conngressional committees to see if your idea is passable. This is a long and tedious process because every would-be bill has to be vetted by the various appropriations commitees before it moves further. If they can manage to do this, then this idea/bill comes to House of Representative for debate. After the debate a vote is taken. If the vote is not in favour then the bill is dropped and your idea is usually forgotten at this stage. If the vote is in favour of passing this bill, it will then go to The Senate for another debate and vote.

If the Senate does not vote in favour then it comes back to the House of Representatives for revision. If the Senate approves the bill with a passing vote, it will then go to the Supreme court to make sure that it is constitutional. If they reject the bill then it it dropped. If the Supreme court gives approval, then it moves back to Congress for final approval before the bill is sent to the President for signature.

The President also has the right to Veto the bill. The bill can not become a law until the President signs it. If the President vetoes the bill it goes back to the house and the whole process restarts.

If the President signs the bill and makes it into a law, it is then handed down to the various agencies which are responsbible for enforcing the new law.

This entire process can take years, and for people who are passionate about creating a new law, it can be quite painstaking and will require a lot of hard work, and patience. The worse part is that anywhere a long this long and windng road, it can be dropped and forgotten. You have to be prepared for such disappointment as well. The positive side of this process is that any citizen can take the step to demand a change, and make the difference.

The supreme court only sees it if a case is brought before them and they decide to rule on that specific issue and not dismiss the case on a technicality. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/accuse_write?qid=20080223185226AABEL4V&kid=JoJZI2C8VXoo2yzpoX8x&s=comm&date=2008-09-03+15%3A19%3A19&.crumb=

**This is on the federal level - I assumed that's what you meant because you said "US". It's different for state and local governments, and it varies by state.

You will need to contact your Senator or Representative (it will probably be easier to get a meeting with your Rep). Call or e-mail them explaining your position and try to set up a meeting with a member of their staff. If you are a member of an organization, or if you own a business and this relates to your business, this will be easier to arrange.

When you meet with their staff, it's best to have a draft of what you think the bill should say - you should probably read some legislation or have a lawyer help you if you can (though it's not necessary). Have facts and back up your argument. The staffer will relay your opinions and bill to the Congressman.

If the lawmaker decides to support the bill, he will then write it up and ask for cosponsors (other Congressmen who support the bill). If the leaders of that house of Congress like it, then it gets introduced to the House or Senate, and referred to a Committee. It can also be stalled or stopped in Committee. In a Committee, the bill gets referred to a Sub-Committee, who work on writing it and adding amendments. Then it will come to the floor for a vote. If it passes, it goes to the next house of Congress, and through the same process. If it passes, it goes to a joint committee of both houses, then back through both in a final form. Then the President has to sign it.

For that process you'll probably need to get people from many states to call and write their Congressmen in support of your bill. Getting companies and organizations to support you will only help.

Good luck!

There are several ways that include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Get a congressperson to present your idea to congress

2. Present it yourself

3. Pass a petition around & submit the petition to your local government (and if you want it to be a state/fed law then send the petition to your congresspeople.

It can indeed be done. I've worked on several such laws that have been passed.

It is impossible. You would need millions of dollars for bribes and a political action committee with lobbyists to get to the congressmen and senators. Not possible. Sorry.

a bill, in identical form, must be passed by both the House of Rep and the Senate, then signed by the Pres

it's not easy, but the best thing to do would be to contact your rep in the House

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