How a Law Is Made: Timeline Activity

Understanding how a law is created is one fo the most important parts of learning how our government works. For this part of the Webelos My Community adventure, scouts will choose a federal law, explore how it was passed, and create a timeline showing how all three branches of government were involved.

This post will walk you through the process step-by-step and offer a great example to follow using a real-life federal law.

Requirement 3: Choose a federal law and create a timeline of the history of the law. Include the involvement of the 3 branches of government.

How A Bill Becomes A Law

Before scouts choose a law and create a timeline, it helps to understand the steps a bill takes to become a law. You can use our infographic to follow along. Here’s how it works:
1. An Idea Is Introduced:
Someone, usually a member of Congress, comes up with an idea for a new law. They write the idea down with all the details, and they call it a bill.
2. The Bill Goes To Committee.
The bill goes to a committee that looks it over, debates it, suggests new ideas or changes, and decides whether it should move on to the next step.
3. Congress Debates and Votes.
In the Congress there are 2 groups, the House and the Senate. Both of the groups will also look at bill and decide if any changes need to be made before voting on whether their group believes it should be a law. If the House agrees it should be a law and the Senate agrees it should be a law it then moves to the President.
4. The President Decides.
Once the House & the Senate (also known as Congress) pass the bill, the President gets to look at it. The President can sign it into law or veto it.
5. Reviewed By Courts.
If someone believes that the bill should not be a law because it goes against the Constitution, the Judicial Branch (like the Supreme Court) may step in and review it.

Watch A Video On The Process

Example of a Law Timeline:

Step-by-Step Timeline of the American Disabilities Act (ADA):

1988-1989 – Written and introduced the bill (Legislative Branch)
Lawmakers in the House and Senate worked together to write a bill that would protect the rights of people with disabilities. It was debated, revised, and voted on.
July 13, 1990 – Passed by Congress (Legislative Branch)
After much discussion, the ADA passed both the House and the Senate (Congress)
July 26, 1990 – Signed into law by President George H.W. Bush (Executive Branch)
The President signed the bill, and it officially became law.
1990’s-Today – Reviewed by federal courts (Judicial Branch)
Courts continue to interpret parts of the ADA and make decisions about how it should be applied in real-life situations.