How is the legislative process defined?
The Iowa legislative process is defined by the State Constitution,
state law, the chambers' rules, and tradition. While it may seem
to be long and cumbersome, the legislative process is designed to
produce legislation that is carefully weighed and well considered.
Where do bills
come from?
A bill or resolution begins as an idea. Ideas for legislation
originate from many sources, among them constituents, governmental
agencies, professional associations, legislators and other legislatures.
In Iowa, only legislators or legislative committees can introduce
bills and resolutions.
What are the
different forms of Legislation?
Ideas can be translated into several different types of legislation.
Those types are described below.
- Bills.
Legislative proposals drafted for consideration by the
General Assembly usually take the form of a bill. Bills propose
changes to existing statutes, create new laws, or appropriate
funds. Most legislative proposals are bills and are called either
Senate Files (prefaced SF) or House Files (prefaced HF).
- Study
Bills. Study bills are used to determine reception of
an issue by the General Assembly. They are developed under committee
sponsorship for committee consideration. The Governor and state
agencies may also have their ideas drafted as study bills. Study
bills are called either Senate Study Bills (prefaced SSB) or
House Study Bills (prefaced HSB) and receive study bill numbersShould
a study bill attain committee approval, the study bill will
be introduced with the committee as the sponsor and receive
a Senate or House File number, and be eligible for debate on
the floor of the chamber of introduction.
- Concurrent
Resolutions. Requiring adoption by both chambers, concurrent
resolutions deal with joint rules of the two chambers and temporary
legislative matters or express the sentiment of the Legislature.
Concurrent resolutions are called either Senate Concurrent Resolutions
(prefaced SCR) or House Concurrent Resolutions (prefaced HCR).
- Senate
or House Resolutions. Also known as simple resolutions,
these proposals are filed for consideration only by their chamber
of origin. Resolutions usually express appreciation, congratulations,
or sympathy. Resolutions are called either Senate Resolutions
(prefaced SR) or House Resolutions (prefaced HR).
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- Joint
Resolutions. This type of resolution is used for temporary
measures which have the effect of law. Joint resolutions are
used to propose amendments to the State Constitution and the
United States Constitution, to nullify administrative rules,
and to accept bequests of property on behalf of the State.
They require the Governor's signature only if an appropriation
or a temporary law is involved. The Governor maintains normal
veto powers and the Legislature maintains its power to override
vetoes of joint resolutions. Joint resolutions are called
either Senate Joint Resolutions (prefaced SJR) or House Joint
Resolutions (prefaced HJR).
What is a
conference committee? Conference committees
are composed of 5 members from the Senate and 5 members from
the House representing both political parties and the different
issues in contention. The 10 members of the conference committee
are appointed by leadership. The committee studies the points
of disagreement between the Senate and House and attempts to
reach a compromise. If a compromise is attained, it is presented
to both chambers in a report that amends the bill. Neither chamber
may amend the conference committee report. Should either chamber
reject the report, a second conference committee may be appointed
to draft a new report. Once the conference committee report
is adopted in a chamber, the chamber votes on the bill. What is the
Governor's role? Bills passed
by the Legislature must be sent to the Governor for final action.
The Governor has three options: sign the bill, veto the bill,
or take no action. In the case of a veto, the Legislature may
override the veto with two-thirds of the members of each chamber
voting to pass the bill again. If, during session, the Governor
does not sign or veto a bill, it becomes law after three days.
Bills received by the Governor during the last three days of
session shall be signed or vetoed within 30 days.
What are the
three types of vetoes the Governor may use? The Governor
has the option to use three types of vetoes: the veto, item
veto, and pocket veto. The veto indicates the Governor's disapproval
of an entire bill. The item veto may be used only for bills
which appropriate funds. It strikes a specific item in a bill.
Finally, a pocket veto occurs when the Governor fails to take
action within 30 days on a bill received within the last three
days of session. The entire bill then fails to become law. When
the Governor vetoes or item vetoes a bill, a veto message explaining
why the veto was made is delivered to the chamber of origin
with the bill and is filed with the Secretary of State.
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