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IMMIGRATION LAW UPDATE.
MAY 22, 2006.
The United States Congress is working to pass a new immigration law that may allow many persons presently in the USA without proper documents to become legal residents and, ultimately, American citizens. Immigrants (and some Americans too) in America are often confused about the meaning of American news reports about this potential immigration law. It is important for everyone to understand that the new law has not yet passed, and the exact conditions of the new law are unknown. However, understanding the American system will help you follow the news.
The American Government has 3 branches: First, the Executive Branch, which is now run by President Bush. Second, the Legislative Branch, known as the Congress. Third, is the Judiciary.
The Congress has 2 parts, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. The Senate includes 2 persons from each of the 50 American states. The House includes 435 persons from among the 50 states, with each state's membership based on the population of that state.
To create a new law, it must first be passed in the Congress. Either the Senate or the House can propose a new law, but ultimately both the Senate and House must agree upon and vote to pass the law. This is not a simple or fast process.
A proposal for a new law, which is often called a "bill", originates in either the Senate or the House. Let's assume the process starts in the House, as is the case with the potential new immigration law. The process begins in a committee, which researches and investigates the bill, and then passes its own version of the bill. Then, the bill goes to a vote before the entire House.
If the House passes the bill, then it is given to the Senate for consideration. Often the Senate will assign the House's bill to a Senate committee, which must then agree to pass the bill exactly as written by the House, or will pass its own version of the bill. Then, the House bill must pass a vote before the entire Senate.
Once the House and Senate have each passed their own version of the bill, the two groups will meet and negotiate to create a single bill. A bill must ultimately pass in both the House and Senate in identical form before presentation to the President. Once the House and Senate have both passed the same identical bill, then it is presented to the President. The President cannot make any changes to the bill. If the President signs the bill as presented, it becomes a law. The President may also reject the bill, and this is known as a veto.
A detailed explanation of the American legislative process is available from the United States government at http://thomas.loc.gov/home/lawsmade.toc.html.
Presently, an immigration bill has passed the full House, and another version of that bill has passed a committee in the Senate. So, a lot of work remains to be done. Stay tuned for the next immigration update from Wites & Kapetan, P.A. to learn more about the immigration bill and its prospects for passage.
This article was authored by Marc A. Wites, Esq. of Wites & Kapetan, P.A. Wites & Kapetan practices immigration law. For more information on Wites & Kapetan's immigration practice, visit www.wklawyers.com, email info@wklawyers.com or call (954)570-8989. |
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