Bill in the United States

Bill Definition

(Lat. billa). A formal written statement, account, or declaration. The principal legal significations of the term are:

In Old English Practice. The original petition (according to the definition of Bill based on the Cyclopedic Law Dictionary ; this definition may need to be proofreaded) by which an action in the court of king’s bench was begun.
In Chancery Practice. A complaint in writing, addressed to the chancellor, containing the names of the parties to the suit, both complainant and defendant, a statement of the facts on which the complainant relies, and the allegations which he makes, with an averment that the acts complained of are contrary to equity, and a prayer for relief and proper process.
In Legislation. A special act passed by the legislature in the exercise of a quast judicial power. Thus, bills of attainder, bills of pains and penalties, are spoken of. The draft of a law submitted to the consideration of a legislative body for its adoption. After a bill has been adopted, it is properly known as an act.
In Mercantile Law. The creditor’s written statement of his claim, specifying the items. It differs from an account stated in this, that a bill is the creditor’s statement, and an account stated is a statement which has been assented to by both parties. The term is also sometimes used for bill of exchange, bill of exceptions, bill of costs, etc. (g. v.)

How to Find a (Federal) Bill

Pg. 6-20 of the book “In Legal Research, How to Find & Understand the Law”, by Stephen Elias and Susan Levinkind, provides a good overview of how to find a bill for legal research:

“If you wish to see an actual hard copy of the current bill, you will usually have to obtain one through your elected representative. …. If for some reason you don’t get what you need, you can get a good description of the legislation by following these steps:
1. Locate the Congressional Index (published by Commerce Clearing House).
2. If you don’t know the bill number (for example, H.R. 1 or S. 687), use the Congressional Index subject index to find it.
3. If you already know the bill number, use the status table in the Congressional Index to find out the bill’s current status.
4. Review the bill’s contents in the Congressional Indexdigest section.

If you wish to see legislative history for a statute—such as committee reports—or a specific pending statute, use a publication called Congressional Information Service/Index (CIS).
You may also consult a publication called Digest of Public General Bills and Resolutions for lengthy descriptions of pending legislation.”

Thomas Website

More about Thomas capabilities can be found here.

At the Thomas site, the user can find:

Summaries of bills by bill number and by Public Law number (a number attached to bills that became law). These summaries are available back to the 93rd Congress (1973-1974).
The full text of all bills introduced into Congress from the 101st Congress (1991-1992) onward.
The full text of the Congressional Record from the 101st Congress (1989-1990) onward. Thomas carries the Congressional Record index back to the 104th Congress.
Selected Committee reports from the 104th Congress (1993-1994) onward.

Authorization Bill

An AUTHORIZATION BILL provides the authority for a program or agency to exist and determines its policy.

It also recommends spending levels to carry out the defined policy, but these levels are not binding.

Authorizations may be annual, multi-year, or permanent. Expiring programs require re-authorization.

House and Senate rules require that authorizations be in place before final funding decisions are made.

Practical Information

Note: Some of this information was last updated in 1982

Bill of Attainder

A law passed by Congress or a state legislature that inflicts punishment upon someone without the benefit of a judicial trial. The Constitution prohibits bills of attainder to prevent legislatures from usurping judicial functions.

Bill of Complaint

See complaint (in U.S. law) .

Bill in Equity

See complaint (in U.S. law) .

Bill of Lading

Written evidence of a contract between a shipper and carrier for the carriage and delivery of goods. A bill of lading is signed by the carrier or the carrier’s agent. It describes the goods to be carried, states the name of the consignor (the shipper), the terms of the contract of transportation, the place where the goods are to be delivered, and the person to whom, or to whose order, the goods are to be delivered. A bill of lading serves three purposes: it is a receipt for the goods; it is a contract (in U.S. law) that defines the terms under which the carrier agrees to transport the goods; it is a document of title. When the bill of lading states that the goods are to be delivered to the order of a particular person, it is an order or negotiable bill of lading and can be transferred by the original shipper to a third party. Bills of lading are often transferred or “negotiated” in connection with the sale of the goods by shippers to others. The buyer can claim the goods from the carrier by presenting a bill of lading.

Bill of Particulars

A written statement of information and details relating to a legal controversy furnished by one of the parties to the other. The information is produced either voluntarily in response to a demand for bill of particulars (in U.S. law), or in compliance with a judge’s order for that purpose. The bill of particulars is prepared like the demand for bill of particulars, except that in almost all jurisdictions it must have a verification (in U.S. law).

Bill of Rights

The first ten amendments to the Constitution. They limit the federal government by guaranteeing to the individual certain fundamental personal rights. Among the guarantees are freedom of speech and press (in U.S. law), and the right of assemblage and petition (in U.S. law).

Bill of Sale

A formal document issued by a seller to a buyer evidencing the transfer of title to the particular piece of personal property described in the instrument. Some transactions require a bill of sale for purposes of registration, for example, the sale of a motor vehicle. (Revised by Ann De Vries).

Legislative Definition of Bill

This Congressional concept is provided by the United States Congress website as a a basic reference document: The primary form of legislative measure used to propose law. Depending on the chamber of origin, bills begin with a designation of either H.R. or S.

Another Bill Definition in the Legislative Process

The following is a definition of Bill , by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL): Draft of a proposed law presented to the legislature for consideration.

More about the legislative meaning of Bill

Joint resolution is another form of legislative measure used to propose law.

Bill in the Legislative Process

A proposed law. A bill introduced into Congress can become a law if passed by both houses, then signed by the president.

More about Bill in the Legislative Process

A proposed law that a legislature is in the process of considering.

Bill in Foreign Legal Encyclopedias

Link	Description
Bill	Bill in the World Legal Encyclopedia.
Bill	Bill in the European Legal Encyclopedia.
Bill	Bill in the Asian Legal Encyclopedia.
Bill	Bill in the UK Legal Encyclopedia.
Bill	Bill in the Australian Legal Encyclopedia.

What is Bill?

For a meaning of it, read Bill in the Legal Dictionary here. Browse and search more U.S. and international free legal definitions and legal terms related to Bill.

Bill (in Politics)

Related to political science, the following is a definition of Bill in the U.S. practice of politics: A proposed law introduced in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.

A bill originating in the House is designated by the letters “H.R.” followed by a number and bills introduced in the Senate as “S.” followed by a number. The sequential numbering of bills for each session of Congress began in the House in 1817 and in the Senate in 1847.

In 1975, Schoolhouse Rock aired an educational segment, “I’m Just a Bill,” introducing children to the concept of how a bill becomes a law.

Concept of Bill in Political Science

The following is a very basic definition of Bill in relation to the election system and the U.S Congress: A proposed new law

Resources

Bill in the Context of Law Research

The Thurgood Marshall School of Law Library defined briefly Bill as: A proposed law presented to a legislature by a member of that legislature.Legal research resources, including Bill, help to identify the law that governs an activity and to find materials that explain that law.

G.I. Bill in the International Business Landscape

Definition of G.i. Bill in the context of U.S. international business and public trade policy: Serviceman’s Readjustment Act of 1944 that pays for college education for returning veterans.

Bill