How to Write a Government Bill Proposal
One way to get the government to take action on an issue--whether it is national and far-reaching or simply a personal grievance--is to write a bill and get it presented to Congress. Bills can raise public awareness and get Congress to discuss all aspects of a particular concern. If your bill is passed, it could result in funding or a new regulation.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the type of bill you want to write. Determine if it is a private bill, which affects only you, a defined group of people (such as a club or organization) or a business. Private bills are relatively uncommon today because there are many agencies that can help private citizens with their grievances. Most private bills passed today usually involve veterans issues, tax liability and citizenship. A public bill can potentially affect anyone in the United States.
-
2
If you plan to write a public bill, ask public interest groups who might be interested in the subject to sponsor the bill with you. This could create more interest in the issue.
-
-
3
Research your topic. Find out as much as possible about your issue so that you can cite current law, among other things. Visit FindLaw for information about issues, as well as a list of lawyers you can consult with for assistance.
-
4
Write your bill. All bills--private and public--have the same general outline. For longer bills, you'll need to create a table of contents. All bills are divided into sections, subsections and paragraphs. An example of this organization is:
Section 1: Illegal Bird Hunting
Subsection (a): Acts and Treaties Restricting Bird Hunting
Paragraph (1): Lacey Act
Paragraph (2): Weeks-McLean Law
Paragraph (3): Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 -
5
Find a representative to present your bill to Congress. If your bill is private or applies to only a district in your state, you'll want to contact someone at the office of your district's representative. If your bill can affect your entire state, you'll want to contact either of your state's two U.S. senators.
-
1
Resources
More Like This
Comments
-
arthurelliott01
Dec 14, 2009
The time for a significant change has reared its head once again...this time its for the "conciousness of a people". If you're "not Black... not African... not white... what are you? ...both! Help me address this matter in Congress, "'Cause a change is gonna'come..oh yes it is".
