Information on How to Get a Law Passed

With a little persistence, private citizens can initiate a law.

American citizens elect senators and representatives to make laws for rest of the population. However, these politicians do not have a monopoly on public policy-making. Many laws were created by average American citizens who felt a need for a regulation. They followed the steps in getting their policy idea made into a bill that was sent to Washington D.C. and eventually became a law.

Instructions

1. Gather your information. Clearly write out the problem and how it affects people within your congressional district or state and the rest of the country. Use statistics and credible sources (avoid forums, blogs and user-generated information) to help support your argument. Propose a solution. Try to find out the cost of implementation if you can and write that as well.

2. Contact the senators and representatives from your state, especially those from your district. Send them your information or take it to them at their district offices. Sometimes the best way to get an appointment is to call and ask for one. You can also write a request.

3. Present your evidence to the legislators and sell the idea that a law is needed. Use the statistics as well as personal stories to present the human side of your argument. Bring along people who have been affected by the problem.

4. Work with the legislators to see if you can present your case to committee. Only a member of the U.S. Congress can introduce laws in the form of a bill, but senate and congressional committees often hear testimony from average citizens. Work with the lawmakers to build a presentation for the committee that may consider a bill.

5. Prepare yourself for hearings that may be needed to gather more information on the bill. Once the committee has all the necessary information, they vote. A majority vote from the committee sends the bill to the floor. There, you'll need a majority vote in favor of the bill. It goes forward to the House or Senate, whichever hasn't voted on the bill. There, it will go to committee and then on the floor for a vote. A majority vote here and a signature from the president is needed to make the bill a law.

Tips & Warnings

• Circulate a petition amongst the people in your district and state, and use social networking to take it national. The popularity of your idea amongst the American people will help in getting the bill passed.

• Ultimately, getting a bill passed is out of the ordinary citizen's hands. Once the bill goes before the legislative body, all you can do is wait for the vote.

References

• International Dark-Sky Association: How to Get State Legislation Passed
• National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome; State Legislation; Your Idea Can Become a Law
• West Virginia Legislature: How a Bill Becomes Law
• Project Vote Smart; Government 101: How a Bill Becomes Law