Adapted from Congress at Your Fingertips from Capitol Advantage (http://capitoladvantage.com)

Introduction: Member of Congress introduces legislation. The official process begins when a bill is numbered, ("H.R." signifies a bill originating in the U.S. House of Representatives and "S." signifies a bill originating in the U.S. Senate) referred to a committee and printed.

Step 1. Referral to Committee: bill is referred to standing committee in House or Senate. The referral is determined by which committee, or committees, has jurisdiction over the issues addressed in the bill.

Step 2. Committee Action: When a bill reaches a committee, it is placed on the committee’s calendar. If the committee chairperson decides not to hear a bill, or act upon it in some other way, it is the equivalent of killing it.

Step 3: Subcommittee Review: Often, bills are referred to a subcommittee. Hearings held at the subcommittee or committee
level allow the views of the executive branch, other public officials, experts, supporters and opponents to be put on the record.

Step 4. Mark Up: After hearings are held, the subcommittee may "mark up" the bill (make changes or add amendments) prior to recommending it to the full committee. If a subcommittee votes not to report the bill to the full committee, the bill dies.

Step 5. Committee Action: After receiving the subcommittee’s report on the bill, the full committee can conduct further hearings, or it can vote and "order the bill reported" to the respective chamber where the bill originated: House or Senate.

Step 6. Written Report: After the bill is reported, committee staff prepares a report on the bill describing the intent and scope of the legislation.

Step 7. Scheduling Floor Action: The bill is placed in chronological order on a calendar. The House keeps several legislative
calendars, and the Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader largely determine if, when and in what order bills come before the House. In the Senate, there is only one legislative calendar.

Step 8. Debate: When a bill reaches the floor of the House or Senate, the chamber must vote on the rules determining the amount of time allocated for debate on the bill.

Step 9. Voting: After debate and approval of any amendments, the chamber votes. Votes may be recorded electronically or by voice vote. A recorded or "roll call" vote contains the names of members who vote for or against the bill, or who did not vote at all. A voice vote is a simple "aye" or "no" and the presiding officer in the chamber determines the result. If a bill is non-controversial, or has been reviewed sufficiently by each member of Congress before even reaching the floor, it can be voted on without scheduling any debate. This is called "unanimous consent" or "suspension of the rules."

Step 10. Referral: When the House or Senate passes a bill, it is referred to the other chamber which may approve the bill, reject it, ignore it or change it through the same committee or subcommittee action as described above.

Step 11. Conference Committee: If the opposite chamber only makes minor changes, the legislation goes back to the originating chamber for approval of the changes. However, if the bill has been significantly altered, a conference committee with members from both chambers is formed to reconcile the differences. If the conferees can reach an agreement, a conference report is prepared, if not, the bill dies.

Step 12. Presidential Action: After a bill has been passed in identical forms through the House and Senate (or reported out of a conference committee), it is sent to the President who may either sign it into law or veto (reject) it. If Congress is in session and the President takes no action, it automatically becomes law. If Congress has already adjourned its second session and the President takes no action, it is called a "pocket veto" and the bill is rejected.

Step 13: Overriding a Veto: Congress may attempt to override a presidential veto, which requires a two-thirds majority roll call vote.

U.S. Long version at: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html

Canadian Version:

Prepared by Inba Kehoe, Government Documents, Stauffer Library, Queen's University The following guide will explain the process by which a typical government initiated bill becomes law. This guide provides
an overview of the Federal Legislative Process. Adapted from "The Federal Legislative Process in Canada".

NOTE:
To become law, a bill must first be introduced in either the Senate or the House of Commons. It must then pass through various stages in each House: first, second and third reading. Then it must receive Royal Assent.

DEFINITIONS

Public Bills
These are proposals for laws that will affect the public in general. Most public bills are introduced by Government Ministers. Bills sponsored by the Government are numbered from C-1 to C-200 in order of presentation. If they are introduced first in the Senate, they are numbered starting S-1.

Private Bills
These are limited in scope: they concern an individual or group of individuals only. They confer a right on some person or group, or relieve them of a responsibility.

POLICY PROPOSAL
Most legislation originates with the Government. Policy proposal requiring legislation is submitted to Cabinet by Minster(s).

CABINET

• Policy proposal is considered by the appropriate Cabinet committee and recommendations are made to the Cabinet.
• If Cabinet approves, the responsible Ministry issues drafting instructions to the Legislation Section of the Department
  of Justice.
• Draft bill is prepared in two official languages and approved by the responsible Minster.
• Draft bill is presented to Cabinet for approval.
• If approved it is ready to be introduced in Parliament.

PARLIAMENT

• FIRST READING
  First reading in either the Senate or the House of Commons. Bill is printed.

• SECOND READING
  Second reading in the same House of Parliament. Members debate and vote on the principle of the bill. The House may decide to refer the bill to a legislative, standing or a special committee, or to Committee of the Whole.
  
  
  CONSIDERATION IN COMMITTEE
  Consideration by the appropriate parliamentary committee (clause-by-clause study of the bill). Committee can summon witnesses and experts to provide it with information and help in improving the bill.

• REPORT STAGE
  Committee reports the bill to the House clearly indicating any amendments propsosed. House considers amendments and votes for or against them.
  
  
• THIRD READING
  Debate and vote on bill as amended. NOTE: Once bill has been read 3 times in the House, it is sent to the Senate for its consideration.
  
  

E.ROYAL ASSENT

• Bill is presented to the Governor General for assent.
• Governor General may assent to Bill in the Queen's name, withhold assent or reserve assent.
• When Bill is given Royal Assent it becomes law.
  
  
• F.IN FORCE
  • Statute is in force: upon Royal Assent, or
    when it is proclaimed by the Governor General, or
    on a day specified in the act
    
    
• Different sections may come into force at different times