How Our Laws Are Made

by Johnson, Charles W.; Koempel, Michael

• ISBN13: 9781470045210
• ISBN10: 1470045214
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-02-07
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Pub

Summary

First published in 1953 by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, this 23rd edition of ''How Our Laws Are Made'' reflects changes in congressional procedures since the 22nd edition, which was revised and updated in 2000. This fiftieth anniversary edition was prepared by the Office of the Parliamentarian of the U.S. House of Representatives in consultation with the Office of the Parliamentarian of the U.S. Senate. The framers of our Constitution created a strong federal government resting on the concept of ''separation of powers.'' In Article I, Section 1, of the Constitution, the Legislative Branch is created by the following language: ''All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.'' Article I, Section 5, of the Constitution provides that: ''Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, . . .''. Upon this elegant, yet simple, grant of legislative powers and rulemaking authority has grown an exceedingly complex and evolving legislative process-much of it unique to each House of Congress. FROM THE INTRODUCTION:This book is intended to provide a basic outline of the numerous steps of our federal lawmaking process from the source of an idea for a legislative proposal through its publication as a statute. The legislative process is a matter about which every person should be well informed in order to understand and appreciate the work of Congress.It is hoped that this guide will enable readers to gain a greater understanding of the federal legislative process and its role as one of the foundations of our representative system. One of the most practical safeguards of the American democratic way of life is this legislative process with its emphasis on the protection of the minority, allowing ample opportunity to all sides to be heard and make their views known. The fact that a proposal cannot become a law without consideration and approval by both Houses of Congress is an outstanding virtue of our bicameral legislative system. The open and full discussion provided under the Constitution often results in the notable improvement of a bill by amendment before it becomes law or in the eventual defeat of an inadvisable proposal.