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I am curious as to both the theoretical and practical aspects of how an individual might get a bill introduced in congress. How might one go about this?

One potential application might be for introducing a bill to get a congressperson removed from their seat. How might that work? Is this a possible route since " Is there a procedure to recall US Senators? " lays out how this does not appear to be possible otherwise?

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    Interesting question. My gut instinct is "No" (and lobbyists can't directly introduce them either), but I look forward to seeing what answers (and documentation) this question generates.
    – Bobson
    Commented Jan 15, 2014 at 19:24
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    lobbists write bills all the time, but you still need a representative to introduce the bill (sponsor). I dont believe a bill to remove a member of Congress would be effective, a proceedure already exists for removing officers (2/3rds vote). Were you interested in a costitutional amendment? (need state legislture support).
    – user1873
    Commented Jan 15, 2014 at 21:17
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    Is there any reason to think that anyone other than a member of the legislature can introduce a bill?
    – DJClayworth
    Commented Jan 15, 2014 at 23:05
  • @DJClayworth - Not that I can think of, but I also can't think of a reason why there couldn't be a (theoretical) way to do so, either. So the question really is: "Why do you need to be a member to introduce a bill? Is it Constitutional? Procedural? Chamber rule?"
    – Bobson
    Commented Jan 16, 2014 at 15:42

1 Answer 1

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No. In both houses, an elected representative is required to introduce a bill.

The House

In the U.S. House of Representatives, a bill is introduced when it is placed in the hopper—a special box on the side of the clerk’s desk. Only Representatives can introduce bills in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Senate flowchart:

Bill is introduced by Senator

For more information on the process, you might want to research How a Bill Becomes a Law

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  • That helps a lot, but during the process, after the bill goes to committee, what effect can citizens have on a bill, to help it succeed? Do the public hearings really matter? In the case of say a House resolution to suspend a member, since that only affects that chamber, wouldn't it be considered a simple resolution, needing only the House to vote on it? (Which leaves the problem of convincing your congressperson to introduce the resolution, which might be considered in poor form by their peers...)
    – Lindsay Morsillo
    Commented Jan 17, 2014 at 20:33
  • To nitpick, according to the Senate rules the Vice President could introduce a bill from the President, which would not involve a member of Congress.
    – D M
    Commented Jan 11, 2023 at 23:16

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