I'm Just a Bill

Whew, you sure gotta climb a lot of steps to get to this Capitol Building here in Washington
But I wonder who that sad little scrap of paper is?

I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill

Well, it's a long, long journey to the capital city
It's a long, long wait while I'm sitting in committee

But I know I'll be a law someday
At least I hope and pray that I will
But today I am still just a bill

Gee, Bill, you certainly have a lot of patience and courage

Well, I got this far
When I started out, I wasn't a bill at all, I was just an idea
You see, some folks back home decided they wanted to pass a law
So they called their local congressman
And he said, "You're right, there oughta be a law"
Then he sat down, wrote me out and introduced me to Congress
And I became a bill, and I'll remain a bill until they decide to make me a law

I'm just a bill
Yes I'm only a bill
And I got as far as Capitol Hill
Well, now I'm stuck in committee
And I'll sit here and wait
While a few key congressmen discuss and debate

Whether they should let me be a law
How I hope and pray that they will
But today I am still just a bill

Listen to those congressmen arguing
Is all that discussion and debate about you?

Yeah, I'm one of the lucky ones
Most bills never even get this far
I hope they decide to report on me favorably
Otherwise I may die

Die?

Yeah, die in committee
Ooh, but it looks like I'm gonna live!
Now I go to the House of Representatives and they vote on me

If they vote yes, what happens?

Then I go to the Senate and the whole thing starts all over again

Oh no!

Oh yes!

I'm just a bill
Yes, I'm only a bill
And if they vote for me on Capitol Hill
Well, then I'm off to the White House
Where I'll wait in a line
With a lot of other bills for the President to sign
And he signs me then I'll be a law
How I hope and pray that he will
But today I am still just a bill

You mean, even if the whole Congress says you should be a law, the President can still say no?

Yes, it's called a veto
If the President vetoes me, I have to go back to Congress
And they vote on me again, and by that time you're so old

By that time, it's very unlikely that you become a law
It's not easy to become a law, is it?

No!

But how I hope and pray that I will
But today I am still just a bill

He signed you, Bill!
Now you're a law!

Right on!