Can a citizen propose a bill?
The idea for a bill can come from a sitting member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives or be proposed during their election campaign. Bills can also be petitioned by people or citizen groups who recommend a new or amended law to a member of Congress that represents them.
Anyone can write it, but only members of Congress can introduce legislation. Some important bills are traditionally introduced at the request of the President, such as the annual federal budget. During the legislative process, however, the initial bill can undergo drastic changes.
Writing a Bill
Almost anyone can write a bill; however the majority of bills that are introduced to Congress come from members or constituents.
These ideas can come from anybody and the process begins when either an individual or group persuades a Member of the Legislature to author a bill. The Member then sends the idea and the language for the bill to the Legislative Counsel's Office, where it is drafted into the actual bill.
A bill becomes law if signed by the President or if not signed within 10 days and Congress is in session. If Congress adjourns before the 10 days and the President has not signed the bill then it does not become law ("Pocket Veto.")
All legislation begins as an idea. Ideas can come from anyone. The process begins when someone persuades a Senator or Assembly member to author a bill. A legislator sends the idea and the language for the bill to the Legislative Counsel where it is drafted into the actual bill.
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 simple majority (218 of 435), the bill moves to the Senate.
It is not illegal to write on paper currency, however, it is illegal to deface money. There are three things you CANNOT do to money: Change the denomination, for example, add zeros to make the value larger. Burn, shred or destroy money.
A bill should be written so that each individual thing the bill is doing will be its own section. You may also need a section on how the bill will be funded. If your bill requires money, you will want to state how much money will be spent and from where the money will come.
A bill is a legislative proposal before Congress. Bills from each house are assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced, starting at the beginning of each Congress (first and second sessions).
Who can propose a tax bill and why?
The tax bill is initiated in the House of Representatives and referred to the Ways and Means Committee. When members of this committee reach agreement about the legislation, they write a proposed law. After Congress passes the bill, it goes to the president, who can either sign it into law or veto it.
In the Senate, any number of senators may introduce a single bill; in the House, a limit of 25 representatives may cosponsor a bill. Many bills are actually committee bills and therefore are introduced under the name of the (sub)committee's chairperson as a formality.
There are three basic ways to communicate your point of view to your legislator: by letter/email, by phone or by visit. The personal visit is probably the most effective method, particularly if your legislator knows you or is familiar with the group or organization you represent.
After a measure passes in the House, it goes to the Senate for consideration. This includes consideration by a Senate committee or subcommittee, similar to the path of a bill in the House. A bill must pass both bodies in the same form before it can be presented to the President for signature into law.
The veto power does not give the President the power to amend or alter the content of legislation—the President only has the ability to accept or reject an entire act passed by Congress. The President, however, can influence and shape legislation by a threat of a veto.
If the bill is signed in that ten-day period, it becomes law. If the president declines to either sign or veto it – that is, he does not act on it in any way – then it becomes law without his signature (except when Congress has adjourned under certain circ*mstances).
As technology changed over time, other ways of contacting members also became popular, like the telephone and email. However, Congress still receives thousands of handwritten letters each year. Who can write to Congress? Anyone can write a letter to a member of Congress!
Normally if a president does not sign a bill, it becomes law after ten days as if he had signed it. A pocket veto occurs when a bill fails to become law because the president does not sign it within the ten-day period and cannot return the bill to Congress because Congress is no longer in session.
The legislative branch makes laws, but the judicial branch can declare those laws unconstitutional.
Only members of each chamber may introduce legislation, though occasionally a member introduces legislation by request of the President. Members and their staff typically consult with nonpartisan attorneys in each chamber's Legislative Counsel office for assistance in putting policy proposals into legislative language.
How do you write a bill proposal?
Write in a persuasive manner. Explain the problem the proposal is designed to address and, if it is not self-evident, explain why the problem can only be addressed by a change in law. Describe the changes proposed to address the problem and explain the consequences of these changes.
The Constitution sets three qualifications for service in the U.S. Senate: age (at least thirty years of age); U.S. citizenship (at least nine years); and residency in the state a senator represents at time of election.
As a matter of policy, the Mint does not promote coloring, plating or altering U.S. coinage: however, there are no sanctions against such activity absent fraudulent intent. The key word is fraudulent.
Creating Counterfeit U.S. Currency
Under section 471 of the U.S. Criminal Code, “whoever, with intent to defraud, falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any obligation or other security of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.” 18 U.S.C.
Is it against the law to photograph US currency? No, but reproduction for counterfeit is.
