The Connecticut State Library and Supreme Court Building

So, you want to know how a bill becomes a Law. This is a long tortuous path that will appear chaotic and complex. However, there are still certain hurdles that a bill must overcome to become a law. This web site was developed using Judge Robert Satter's book Under the Gold Dome:  An Insider's Look at the Connecticut Legislature and by observation by J. Michael Green, Political Scientist and Historian.  In addition the invaluable help of Jean Kincaid-Ross and Richard Scholz in the Connecticut State Library Billroom, who together have over 30 years experience observing the legislative process.

The rules for each chamber and the joint rules for both chambers are published in the annual Connecticut Legislative Guide

The rules are important!!! However, they are not published in a manner that mirrors the chronological process of how a bill becomes a law. Reading the rules will not illustrate the legislative process.

Function of the Rules!!!!

First: The rules assure that members of the General Assembly follow orderly procedures and structure debate.

Secondly, since each chamber is organized along party lines, (i.e. the majority party will elect the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore in the Senate along with other various leadership positions) the rules protect the minority party from being effectively silenced or taken out of the legislative process.

Enforcement of the rules occurs when a legislator in the House or Senate raises a “point of order”, claiming a violation of the rules. At that point the speaker or presiding president pro tempore will make a ruling on the “point of order”, consulting the Rules and Precedents of the General Assembly of Connecticut. The legislator, if he dislikes the rule, may challenge the ruling to a floor vote, which usually is upheld by the majority party