After a Bill Is Introduced in the House of Representatives

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The Answer is After a bill is introduced in the United States House of Representatives, it typically follows a standard legislative process before it can become law. Here is a brief explanation of the process:

1. **Introduction**: A member of the House introduces the bill by placing it in the hopper, a special box on the Clerk's desk. The bill is assigned a number (e.g., H.R. for House of Representatives followed by a number) and is recorded in the Congressional Record and printed.

2. **Committee Referral**: The bill is then referred to one or more relevant House committees based on its subject matter. The Speaker of the House is responsible for this referral.

3. **Committee Action**: The committee(s) review the bill, and this is where most of the detailed work is done. Committees can hold hearings to gather information and views from experts and the public. They may also "mark up" the bill, making changes and amendments before deciding whether to send the bill back to the full House floor. If a committee decides not to act on a bill, it is effectively dead, although there are procedures to force a bill out of a committee.

4. **Reporting**: If the committee votes to approve the bill, it is reported back to the full House with the committee's recommendations. A written report accompanies the bill, explaining the intent and scope of the legislation, as well as any changes made.

5. **Floor Action**: The bill is placed on a calendar, which schedules it for debate and voting. Rules for debate are determined by the House Rules Committee. The House debates the bill, may make further amendments, and then votes on it. A simple majority (218 out of 435) is required for the bill to pass the House.

6. **Senate Consideration**: If the bill passes the House, it is sent to the Senate where it goes through a similar process—introduction, committee consideration, debate, and voting. The Senate can approve the bill as received, reject it, ignore it, or change it.

7. **Conference Committee**: If the Senate makes changes to the House bill, a conference committee made up of members from both the House and the Senate is formed to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill.

8. **Final Approval**: Both the House and the Senate must approve the final version of the bill in identical form. Once both chambers have agreed on the text, the final bill is sent to the President.

9. **Presidential Action**: The President has several options:
- Sign the bill into law.
- Veto the bill, sending it back to Congress with reasons for the veto. Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.
- Take no action for ten days while Congress is in session, and the bill automatically becomes law.
- If Congress adjourns before the ten days and the President does not sign the bill, it does not become law (a "pocket veto").

10. **Becoming Law**: If the President signs the bill or if a presidential veto is overridden by Congress, the bill becomes law and is enforced by the government.

This process ensures that legislation is carefully considered and subject to multiple levels of scrutiny before it can have the force of law.

After a Bill Is Introduced in the House of Representatives

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