Complying with Government Agency Procedures

Government agencies have procedures that they must follow in order to be in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. Your business is required to learn and observe the procedures of every

The process begins with Congress. Composed of the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, these are the elected officials who vote on and enact the legislation that eventually become laws. After Congress enacts a law, regulatory government agencies take the legislation and begin compiling it into the volumes of regulations and procedures with which governmental agencies and businesses have to comply.

The following steps outline how an idea goes from becoming a bill introduced in Congress to being an agency-level procedure:

• Step 1: The idea is introduced into Congress where it is assigned a number and becomes a bill and goes before the appropriate congressional committee.
• Step 2: If it makes it through committee, both houses of Congress vote on the bill. It must pass by a majority to move on in the process.
• Step 3: After Congress approves the bill, it is sent to the president to be signed. If the president vetoes the bill, it takes a 2/3 majority from Congress to override the veto.
• Step 4: After the bill becomes a law, regulatory agencies begin the process of defining how to comply with the newly enacted law.
• Step 5: Individual agencies adjust their procedures so that they comply with the current regulations.