How to Read Legislation in 7 Steps

Every legislator you follow online will post about bills they’ve had dealings in proposing and getting signed into law. This is because getting bills signed into law is purposefully hard to accomplish in the United States.

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Don’t allow the sometimes-bombastic rhetoric online to confuse or distract you from what the bills do.

Simply, there are three things you’ll want to answer:

1. What did the bill change?
2. What will/could the bill do?
3. What is the bill connected to?

Understanding legislation is like deciphering the blueprint of a nation’s rules and regulations. These documents, often complex and detailed, are the foundation upon which laws are built. Here’s a concise guide to mastering the art of reading legislation:

1. Locating Legislation

• Government Websites: Most legislative bodies have official websites where they publish proposed and enacted laws.
• Library of Congress or Legal Databases: Resources like these offer comprehensive collections of legislative texts.

2. Structure Decoded