How will the big beautiful bill become a law: number of votes, approval in both chambers and the complete process
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How many votes are needed in the Senate?
How many votes are needed in the House?
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What is supermajority?
How does a bill become a law in the U.S.?
Introduction:
A member of Congress (either House or Senate) introduces the bill. It's assigned a number and referred to the relevant committee for review.
Committee Action:
The committee studies the bill, holds hearings, and may revise it. If approved, the bill moves to the full chamber.
Floor Debate and Vote:
The bill is debated on the chamber floor. Amendments may be proposed. A vote is taken—if it passes by a simple majority, it moves to the other chamber.
The Other Chamber:
The process repeats in the second chamber (House or Senate). If the second chamber amends the bill, it returns to the first chamber for agreement.
Conference Committee (if needed):
If the two chambers pass different versions, a conference committee of members from both chambers negotiates a compromise. Both chambers must then approve the final version.
Presidential Action:
The bill is sent to the President, who can sign it into law or veto it. If vetoed, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds majority in both chambers.
What's next for the bid beautiful bill?
President Trump's much-anticipated 'Big Beautiful Bill,' aimed at extending his signature 2017 tax cuts and reshaping federal spending, has just passed the U.S. Senate after a marathon session. But how many votes did it actually require- and what's the journey from bill to law in the United States?For most major bills, the U.S. Senate needs a simple majority- at least 51 out of 100 votes- to pass. But, if senators try to block a bill with a filibuster, it takes 60 votes (three-fifths of the Senate) to end the debate and move forward.However, the 'Big Beautiful Bill' used special budget reconciliation rules, which let the Senate skip the filibuster and pass the bill with just a simple majority In this case, the final tally was 50-50 after three Republicans (Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Rand Paul) joined all Democrats in opposition. Vice President JD Vance, presiding over the Senate, cast the tie-breaking 51st vote to pass the billAfter nearly 48 hours of debate and a ' vote-a-rama ' on amendments, the bill squeaked through- showing just how tight the margins can be for major legislation.When a bill moves to the House of Representatives , it faces a tight vote. The House is made up of 435 voting members, and passing legislation requires a simple majority- at least 218 votes if all members are present and voting.The previous House version of the ' big beautiful bill ' passed by just 215-214, showing how razor-thin the margins are. The Republican's House majority currently stands at just 220-212, leaving little room for defections.A supermajority is when a higher threshold is required than a simple majority for the bill to pass either of the chamber. It is required for certain actions in Congress . For example, overriding a presidential veto needs a two-thirds majority- 290 out of 435 votes in the House and 67 out of 100 in the Senate. Additionally, constitutional amendments and some impeachment proceedings also demand a two-thirds vote.With the Senate's approval, the bill now heads to the House Rules Committee, which will set the terms for debate. The House will then vote on the bill. If the House passes the Senate's version, it goes straight to President Trump for his signature. If the House amends the bill, it returns to the Senate for further negotiation or a conference committee.If both chambers agree on the final text, President Trump can sign it into law—cementing another major legislative victory for his administration.
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