Put committees, the floor and the President together and you have the path of a bill. Article I, Section 7 sets the rules for the end of the path; the chambers' rules set the rest.
- Introduced by a member (revenue bills must start in the House).
- Committee: hearings, markup, a vote to report it.
- Floor: debate and a vote; a simple majority passes it (in the Senate, ending debate usually takes 60 votes).
- The other chamber does the same.
- One text: differences are settled by a conference committee or by amendments passed back and forth.
- The President has ten days (Sundays excepted) to sign it, veto it, or do nothing.
Why it works
The ending depends on what the President does, and on whether Congress is still in session. Sign: it is law. Veto: it goes back with objections, and two-thirds of each house can override. Do nothing for ten days (Sundays excepted) while Congress is in session: it becomes law without a signature. But if Congress has adjourned during those ten days, the President cannot return it, so it dies: a pocket veto, which Congress cannot override. The framers wanted the President to have a real but limited say: Hamilton defended the "qualified negative" in Federalist No. 73.
Key idea
A bill must pass both houses in the same words, then the President signs it, vetoes it (Congress may override by two-thirds of each house) or lets it become law without a signature after ten days (Sundays excepted) while Congress is in session. If Congress adjourns first, the unsigned bill dies: a pocket veto.
Worked example: Count the days
A bill reaches the President on a Monday, and Congress stays in session. The President does nothing. When does it become law?
- Count ten days, skipping Sundays: Tue 1, Wed 2, Thu 3, Fri 4, Sat 5, (Sun skipped), Mon 6, Tue 7, Wed 8, Thu 9, Fri 10.
- After the tenth day it becomes law without a signature.
Answer: After the second Friday, without the President's signature.
Worked example: Override math
The President vetoes a bill. The House votes 300–135 to override and the Senate 64–36. Does the bill become law?
- Each house needs two-thirds of those voting.
- House: 300 of 435 is above 290, two-thirds. Senate: 64 of 100 is below 67.
- The Senate falls short, so the veto stands.
Answer: No. The veto is sustained in the Senate.
Common mistake
Thinking an unsigned bill always becomes law after ten days. That is true only while Congress is in session. If Congress adjourns during the ten days, the bill dies: a pocket veto. Check: ask two questions: did the President sign or veto? If neither, was Congress still in session at the end of the ten days?