Legislation is the process of drafting, proposing, debating and voting on laws that govern the conduct of individuals and institutions within a state. It is the primary means of a government to regulate its citizens and control its economy. Legislation sets the rules by which courts operate and defines criminal behavior, establishes penalties, and sets the frameworks in which judicial decisions are made. Legislation also establishes the boundaries of a government’s responsibilities and limits its powers. Legislation is usually written by elected legislators, although in some cases it may be drafted by appointed government officials or by citizen initiatives and referendums. Once passed, legislation becomes law by the signature of the executive (like a governor or president) or by overriding a presidential veto. Legislation is a dynamic and continually evolving process that responds to changing social norms and public opinion.
A bill is a legislative act and is typically assigned a legislative number by the clerk upon its introduction in either House. It is then entered in the Congressional Record and assigned a document classification. At full committee meetings, bills are read by section and members may offer germane amendments. Once a bill is approved by a committee, it may be referred to additional committees or the entire House. If a committee approves a bill without referring it, it is known as a companion bill. Bills referred to one or more committees are generally referred to the committee with preponderant jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill.
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