Final answer:
The legislative process for a bill involves drafting, committee review, and debates in both the House of Representatives and Senate, potentially culminating in an omnibus bill that can expedite policy changes. Consensus is key for a bill's progression, often resulting in most bills not becoming law.
Step-by-step explanation:
Tracing a bill through the legislative process involves multiple critical steps, starting with the drafting of legislation which can be initiated by anyone, including think tanks, advocacy groups, or the president. However, only bills introduced by a member of Congress have the potential to become law. After a bill is introduced, it is then reviewed by the appropriate committees, which conduct hearings, debate its contents, and may amend the bill before it is put forward to the legislature.
The legislative body consists of both a House of Representatives and Senate. Once a bill passes one chamber, it moves to the second chamber for further debate and amendment. In some instances, a bill may move simultaneously through both chambers. If differences arise, a joint committee works to reconcile them. Additionally, modern legislation often takes a different route through large omnibus bills connected to the budget process, circumventing traditional committee debates to achieve comprehensive policy changes.
It's essential to recognize that most bills do not make it through this process, often dying in committee. For those that do, achieving consensus is a critical component, requiring agreement both within and between legislative chambers, and subsequently the governor's approval when it is a state bill, or the president's signature for a federal bill.