BILLS
A bill is the
form used for most legislation, whether permanent or temporary, general or
special, public or private.
Bills may originate in either the House of Representatives or the Senate with one notable exception provided for in the Constitution. Bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives but that the Senate may propose or concur with amendments.
By tradition, general appropriation bills also originate
in the House of Representatives. There are public and private bills. A public
bill is one that affects the public generally. A bill that affects a specified
individual or a private entity rather than the population at large is called a
private bill. A typical private bill is used for relief in matters such as
immigration and naturalization and claims against the
A bill originating in the House of Representatives is designated by the letters ‘‘H.R.’’ followed by a number that it retains throughout all its parliamentary stages. The letters signify ‘‘House of Representatives’’ and not, as is sometimes incorrectly assumed, ‘‘House resolution’’. A Senate bill is designated by the letter ‘‘S.’’ followed by its number. The term ‘‘companion bill’’ is used to describe a bill introduced in one House of Congress that is similar or identical to a bill introduced in the other House of Congress. A bill that has been agreed to in identical form by both bodies becomes the law of the land only after Presidential approval or failure by the President to return it with objections to the House in which it originated within 10 days (Sundays excepted) while Congress is in session or the overriding of a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in each House. It does not become law without the President’s signature.
If Congress by their final adjournment prevent its return with
objections. This is known as a ‘‘pocket veto’’.