Legislation is the system of laws enacted by governing bodies to control and regulate the actions of organisations and individuals. By enacting legislation governing bodies ensure order, justice and fairness within society. Governments at the state, federal and local level use legislation to govern the behaviour of citizens and business organisations.
The legislative process usually begins when a legislator is inspired to introduce a bill or receives a request from the public. Legislators may have a draft prepared by a professional drafting lawyer, or they can write their own bill. Once a bill has been introduced, it is given an identification number (for instance, the 2013 Assembly Bill 20) and read for the first time in open session of the Legislature (also known as its “first reading”). If legislators from the same house support a bill, they will sign on as co-authors. The presiding officer then refers the bill to a committee, which specializes in its subject matter. Typically, a committee will hold hearings and discuss the bill at length. Afterwards, the committee or subcommittee will meet to make changes and amendments to the bill. At the end of deliberation, committee or subcommittee members will vote on whether to report the bill to the floor of the Legislature.
Upon being reported to the Floor, the bill will be debated and amended as it makes its way to the final passage of law. Once the bill is passed by both the House and Senate, it will be sent to the President of the United States, who will decide whether to veto it. If the bill is not vetoed, it will be signed into law by the President.