What is a bill?

A bill is a proposal presented to Congress that is not yet a law. This process involves several steps in which the proposal is debated, amended, and voted on by members of Congress. If a bill is approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, it can then be sent to the President for approval or veto.

Understanding this definition is crucial, as it highlights the legislative process whereby ideas for new laws are formally introduced and considered. While a law that has been enacted by Congress refers to a bill that has successfully passed through all legislative hurdles and received Presidential assent, a bill itself has not yet reached that status. Additionally, while a document stating the purpose of a law may exist, it doesn’t define a bill. Similarly, a resolution passed by the Senate is a separate legislative action that does not involve the full bill process but serves different parliamentary procedures or expressions of opinion.