Article I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to enact laws. While a bill is the main vehicle for proposing new laws, Congress has several legislative tools it uses to refine bills before they become law.
A Bill: This is a formal proposal for a new law or for a change to an existing one. It is the primary tool the House of Representatives and the Senate use for the lawmaking process.
Joint Resolutions: There is little difference between a joint resolution and a bill. These resolutions require approval from both chambers and the president’s signature. Joint resolutions are commonly used for continuing or emergency appropriations. But they can also be used to propose amendments to the Constitution, in which case the joint resolution requires two-thirds of each chamber to approve it. Then it is sent to the states for ratification – the president’s signature is not needed.
Continuing resolution (CR): Congress uses this tool to provide temporary funding for federal agencies and programs when annual appropriations bills have not been passed by the start of the fiscal year. A CR can prevent a funding lapse and a potential government shutdown.
Budget reconciliation: This is a fast-track process Congress uses to pass certain laws, primarily those related to the federal budget, taxes, spending, and the debt limit.
Amendments: Lawmakers can amend bills; in other words, they can propose changes to the bill’s text. The alterations may add new language, remove language, revise wording, or replace part (or all) of the bill.
Committees: Congressional committees review bills before the House and the Senate consider them. There are different committees for certain subjects. After a bill is referred to the relevant committee, the committee may study it, hold hearings, debate the details, and propose changes.
Floor procedure: This refers to the official rules and steps that the House of Representatives and the Senate use to manage debate, propose amendments, and vote on bills brought before the chamber.
Filibuster: This tactic can only be used in the Senate. It extends debate and allows the minority party to delay or prevent a vote by talking nonstop for long periods. It is not a tool for passing legislation but for obstruction. To overcome a filibuster, the Senate usually invokes cloture, a procedure used to end debate and force an immediate vote. It generally requires a three-fifths vote (60 out of 100 senators) to invoke cloture. Once the Senate reaches a final vote, the bill typically needs only a simple majority to pass.
