- Published: January 18, 2022
- Updated: January 18, 2022
- University / College: Vanderbilt University
- Level: Doctor of Philosophy
- Language: English
- Downloads: 41
Omnibus Bill Omnibus Bill An Omnibus Bill is a combination of several bills. Congressional leaders can put together bills that arerelated into one bill. The process enables leaders to vote on the package of bills together as a whole. Omnibus bills save times in the process of legislation. An example of such a bill is the one that included the revision of S 990 Act by the 112th congress in 2011.
An omnibus bill is first introduced to the Congress and the Senate. This can be done at the same time. This offers time for the two houses to go through the bill and approve it. The bill is required to be approved within the two-year term of the congress. The introduction of the bill to the houses is followed by reference of the bill to a special committee by the speaker of the house and Senate’s leader. The committees are given time to study the bill and sub-committees are invited to amend or add on to the bill after approval by the house (Smith et. al., 2007). The committee of house rules later receives the new bill and sets the limits and rules for the bill.
The committee of house rules hands the bill to the house and senate. The house considers the rules attached, and after approving them, debate on the bill kicks off. The period for debate and amendment of the bill is not specified (Dewhirst & Rausch, 2007). A conference committee receives the bill after a vote by the house and the senate and harmonizes the changes made by the house with those of the senate. The house and the senate approve the harmonized bill and votes on it. The bill is then handed to the president to either approve or disapprove it. The president can automatically sign the bill if satisfied with it. It is within the president’s discretion to veto the bill or decline to sign the bill. If the congress is in session, vetoing the bill or declining to sign it renders it a law after the lapse of ten days (Smith et. al., 2007). The president can pocket veto the bill if the congress is going on recession thereby killing the bill.
References
Dewhirst, R. E., & Rausch, J. D. (2007). Encyclopedia of the United States Congress. New York: Facts On File.
Smith, S. S., Roberts, J. M., & Vander, W. R. J. (2007). The American Congress. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.
