How a Bill

Becomes a
Law
What is a bill?
● laws in the making.
● They pass into law when they are approved by both houses and the President
of the Philippines.
● A bill may be vetoed by the President, but the House of Representatives may
overturn a presidential veto by garnering a 2/3rds vote.
● If the President does not act on a proposed law submitted by Congress, it will
lapse into law after 30 days of receipt.
Eight Steps in Making a Bill into a Law
Step 1- Bill is filed in the Senate Office of the Secretary (Drafting of the bill)
Any member of Congress – either from the Senate or the House or Representatives
– who has an idea for a law can draft a bill. These ideas come from the Congress
members themselves or from everyday citizens and advocacy groups. The primary
Congress member supporting the bill is called the "sponsor". The other members
who support the bill are called "co-sponsors".
● Step 2- The bill is introduced (First Reading)
● Must be introduced after drafting; still a draft since not yet final and subject to
rejection or revision.
SPONSOR
Representative- introduced in the House; Senator- in the Senate
Title
Number
Author/s
Then referred to appropriate committee- various committees composed of
groups of Congress members who are particularly interested in different topics
such as health or international affairs
Step 3- Committee hearings

it is carefully examined and its chances of passage by the entire Congress are
determined. The committee may even choose to hold hearings to better
understand the implications of the bill.

APPROVE without revisions, with amendments, or recommend substitution or

consolidation with similar bills, or REJECT
If a committee votes not to report legislation to the full chamber of Congress,
the bill dies. If the committee votes in favor of the bill, it is reported to the floor.
This procedure is called "ordering a bill reported".
• Step 4- Second Reading
Read and discussed on the floor
Sponsor delivers’ a speech on the floor
Senate may engage in discussion - debate , amendments may be suggested.
Step 5 - Voting on Second Reading
Senators vote on whether to approve or reject, if approved- calendared for
third reading

Step 6 - Voting on Third Reading

Senate will vote - approved or reject, copies of the final revision are
distributed.
Step 7- Consolidation of the Version of the House

Bicameral conference committee- to reconcile if there are differences between the

Senate and House of Representatives’ versions

-both chambers approve the consolidated version

Step 8 -

Transmittal of the Final Version to the Malacanan

After submission to the President, President may either sign it into law or veto it

● NOTE: A bill becomes a law after 30 days even if President did not sign it.