Tracing a Bill

A bill is traced by walking five gates in order: introduction, committee, first floor, second chamber, president — and recording where it can die at each.

Follow one bill. Gate one, introduction: a member files it; the bill now exists, which by Gov 327 proves nothing further. Gate two, committee: the bill is referred by subject; here it is marked up — amended and rewritten — or, most likely, never scheduled: the graveyard outcome. Gate three, the first floor: in the House a majority passes it; in the Senate, plan for sixty — routine cloture demands set the effective threshold. Gate four, the second chamber: the same gauntlet again, and if the texts differ, a conference committee writes the compromise, which both chambers must pass identically. Gate five, the president: a signature makes law; a veto sends it back, where two-thirds of both chambers can override — rarely. Track any real bill through these gates at congress.gov, the Library of Congress's bill database.