Creating Laws At A Glance

Generally, the United States Congress is responsible for creating laws. Any individual can create and introduce a bill, including a U.S. Senator, politician, or even an average citizen.

In the event that a U.S. citizen wishes to establish a law, he/she will be required to create an extensive bill and subsequently gain support for this bill. He/she must then meet with his/her state Senator, who will introduce the bill to Congress. When a bill is introduced to Congress, it must be reviewed by Congressional Committees, including the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. During this period, various officials will work to veto, approve, and alter the bill.

In most instances, many changes will be made to a bill before the bill is passed into law. More than 50 percent of Congress must approve the bill in order for it to become instated. Once a bill is passed by Congress, the U.S. president can choose to veto or approve the legislation. The process of creating, introducing, and authorizing a new law can take many years.