In this edition of TPO Explains, we break down where federal laws come from, explaining how bills move through Congress, how few ultimately pass, and the steps required for a bill to become law.
November 22, 2025
Where Do Laws Come From?
When a mommy idea and a daddy idea love each other very much… Federal laws start as bills sponsored by a member of Congress.
It goes roughly just as Schoolhouse Rock sang it. Bills are…
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Formally introduced in either the House or Senate
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Debated in one of that chamber’s committees
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Voted on by the full chamber
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Sent to the other chamber
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Debated in one of that chamber’s committees
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Voted on by the full chamber
Once an identical bill passes the House (by simple majority) and the Senate (3/5 needed to end debate), it goes to the President, who signs it into law or vetoes it. Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
How many bills are we talkin’?
About 10,000 bills are introduced in each two-year Congressional session, but most don’t make it out of committees. On average, only 100-200 of the ~10,000 become laws.
The bills most likely to become laws are championed by party leadership—either the Speaker of the House or the Senate Majority Leader—who can introduce bills directly to the floor, bypassing the committee process.
For an interactive overview of what Congress has done so far this year, go here and click the play button.
Is the process always the same?
There are a few exceptions, including:
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Tax laws (must begin in the House)
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Treaties (negotiated by President, approved by ⅔ of Senate—House has no role)
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Constitutional Amendments (⅔ vote in House and Senate + ratification by ¾ of state legislatures—President has no role)
Then what?
Once a bill has approval from the House, the Senate, and the President, it’s delivered to the Office of the Federal Register at the National Archives, assigned a public law number, and included in the next edition of the United States Statutes at Large.
Want to hear Jason, Joe, and Kathleen dive more into how laws are made? Watch this week’s episode of TPO Explains!
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ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Our goal is to keep the big things big and the small things small. Federal laws can be important, but they’re just not God-of-the-Universe important. Stay focused on eternity; it changes everything.
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Colossians 3:2-4 (CSB) (read full passage)
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