Law
A law is a rule that is enforced by institutions such the police and the government. Laws sometimes vary from state to state. Laws are known to shape everything from politics to economics and society in several ways. A law can be serious or strange. New Jersey is a state that is known for having several strange laws. Laws are not made into laws overnight though.
• A American federal law just begins as an idea. Sometimes a law is made as a result of public demand. Usually laws that are formed in this way is a result of some form of violence, such as Megan’s Law, which was passed to require legally law enforcement officials to release information about convicted sex offenders. This law came about because of the kidnapping, rape, and murder of seven-year-old Megan Kanka. Her murderer was a repeated sex offender who had moved into Megan’s neighborhood. No one was required to inform the families in the neighborhood that a sexual offender had moved in. Because of this, Megan’s Law began with state attempts to protect children in their communities from sex offenders; the law then became a nationwide law.
• Once an idea for a law is brought to the attention of congressmen, they can decide whether or not to sponsor the proposed law. A congressman may decide to sponsor a law if they think the law has a good chance of being passed. The proposed law is then introduced to Congress as a bill. The bill then will be sent to a particular committee to see if it will be voted into law. The committee depends on what type of law is trying to be passed. For instance, if a bill revolves around a farming idea, than it is passed along to the Agriculture committee. If the committee approves the possible law, than the bill goes on to the full house of Congress. A proposed law, or bill starts in either the Senate or the House of Representatives.
• There are 435 members of the house of Congress who can turn a bill into a law. Proposed laws are discussed and debated. The bill is then voted on. Of the 435 members, at least 218 members have to agree to the bill to be voted in. Once the House approves the bill, then the proposed law is sent to the Senate. If the Senate does not approve of the bill, it may be sent back to the House for further debate, or abandoned. If the Senate agrees on the bill then it is passed on to the full Senate. Of the 100 senators that vote on the proposed law, 51 must approve of it for it to get passed on to the President of the United States.
The President makes the final decision about turning a bill into a law. If the President does not approve of the bill he can send it back to Congress by vetoing it. However, if the president does approve, then he can sign the bill, thus turning it into an official law.