HOW A BILL BECOMES A LAW
SENATE
1 Preparation of bill
> Drafting of bill by the Senator (through
either his staff or a proponent)
> Filing of bill
* the bill is assigned a number
2 First Reading in Plenary
> Committee Referral
3 Committee consideration/action
> Committee Hearing(s)
> Technical Working Group (if necessary
to consolidate several versions)
> Drafting of Committee Report
> Filing of Committee Report
(after aproval by majority of Members)
* the Committee Report/ Substitute bill is
assigned a number
4 Plenary consideration/ Second Reading
> Sponsorship of Committee Chairperson
and co-authors/co-sponsors
> Interpellations by members of Senate
> Period of Amendments
– Committee amendments
– Individual amendments
> Second reading through voting by
members of Senate
* Second reading approval may be re-
considered to allow perfecting/
HOUSE
1 Preparation of bill
> Drafting of bill by the Representative
(through either his staff or a proponent)
> Filing of bill
* the bill is assigned a number
2 First Reading in Plenary
> Committee Referral
3 Committee consideration/action
> Committee Hearing(s)
> Technical Working Group (if necessary
to consolidate several versions)
* The hearing is conducted by the Mother
Committee (primary committee
referral) then by the Committee on
Appropriation and Ways and Means
Committee if there are
pertinent approrpriatiion provision and
provisions that will impact on government
revenues, respectively.
> Drafting of Committee Report
> Filing of Committee Report
(after aproval by majority of Members)
* the Committee Report/ Substitute bill is
assigned a number
4 Plenary consideration/ Second Reading
> Sponsorship of Committee Chairperson
and co-authors/co-sponsors
> Interpellations by members of the House
of Representatives
> Period of Amendments
– Committee amendments
– Individual amendments
> Second reading through voting by
members of the House of Representatives
* Second reading approval may be re-
considered to allow perfecting/
 additional amendments in plenary or CR
may be re-committed to the
Mother Committee
5 Plenary consideration/ Third Reading
> Third reading of the bill through voting
by members of Senate
* Approval on Third Reading takes place 3
session days after distribution of copies of
approved on Second reading version to the
Members except if the
bill was certified urgent by the President in
which case the 3 days is dispensed with.
Sent to House of Representatives for
6 concurrence
> if House of Rep still has no counterpart
bill that has been acted on, then this bill
undergoes the usual process of legislation
Consolidation of Senate and House
7 version
> if compatible, then versions are
consolidated into one enrolled bill
> if there are differences, a BICAMERAL
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE is formed
to reconcile conflicting provisions*
additional amendments in plenary or CR
may be re-committed to the
Mother Committee
5 Plenary consideration/ Third Reading
> Third reading of the bill through voting
by members of the House of
Representatives
* Approval on Third Reading takes place
3 session days after distribution of copies
of approved on Second reading version to
the Members except if the
bill was certified urgent by the President
in which case the 3 days is dispensed
with.
6 Sent to the Senate for concurrence
> if Senate still has no counterpart bill that
has been acted on, then this bill undergoes
the usual process of legislation
Consolidation of House and Senate
7 version
> if compatible, then versions are
consolidated into one enrolled bill
> if there are differences, a BICAMERAL
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE is formed
to reconcile conflicting provisions

Filing/ Ratification of Conference Filing/ Ratification of Conference

8 Committee Report by both Chambers 8 Committee Report by both Chambers
9 Preparation and Printing of Enrolled Bill
10 Transmittal of Enrolled Bill to the President for approval
> if signed, then bill becomes LAW
> if vetoed, then bill is returned to Congress
– if Senate decides to override veto, then a 2/3 vote of all members must be
obtained, PROVIDED that the House of Representatives likewise follows this condition
> if President fails to communicate his veto of the bill within 30 days after receipt thereof,
the bill shall lapse into law
* Note: Bicam Committee can come up with a bill different from the Senate and the House
(Tolentino vs. Sec. of Finance)