Law new is an official rule or regulation that governs behavior within a society or country. Laws are created by Congress or another legislative body and are usually referred to as legislation (or statutes). The term “law” includes both common law and statutory law. Common laws are the unwritten rules that exist without formal written documentation, while statutory laws are written rules established by a legislature.
The process of creating a new law or amendment to an existing law begins with a policy idea. The idea may come from a sitting member of Congress during their election campaign, from constituents, or from an organization that is calling for a new law. Regardless of the source, the idea is then drafted into a bill. This process is known as bill drafting, which requires specific legal training.
Once a bill is drafted, it can be presented to Congress or another legislative body for consideration. When a bill is considered in committee or on the calendar, it is said to be in that legislative body’s “hands.” Once a bill is passed by both houses of Congress, the Governor has 10 days to sign it or veto it. If the Governor does not sign or veto a bill within this time frame, it becomes a law automatically. However, if the Governor does veto a bill, it can be overridden by two-thirds of both houses of Congress. For more information on laws and rules in the City, please see the Laws of the City of New York and NYC Rules.