Government 101: How an Idea Becomes Law

Extract

The passing of a law is frequently accompanied by media attention and citizen apathy. In today's healthcare delivery situation, we should understand how a bill becomes law and what happens to the idea that engenders that process.

Laws arise from the recommendations of ordinary citizens, but the recommendations follow a complicated process developed by the writers of our constitution to prevent abuses. Laws begin as ideas, they become bills considered by the legislature, they are expanded and enforced by the executive branch, and they are further interpreted by the judiciary branch. The laws governing healthcare issues are particularly complex, as most arise from the state legislatures.

“What were ‘they’ thinking of when ‘they’ passed this law?” How often has one heard this question? In fact, every law represents considerable thought, and many begin with citizens' recommendations. Where do laws come from? Virtually all laws begin as individual ideas, but often the citizen who started the idea may say, “How did my idea end up looking like that?”

The US republic has at its base the Greek concept of democros—the people. This means:

• no people, no government.

• no participation, no good government.

• no informed people, no great government.

In the end, whether we are to be a country reflective of the ancient Roman meaning of democros—the mob—or of Thomas Paine's “the great populist wellspring of common sense” is up to us, or up to you.¹ Moving through this system is both our duty and opportunity, as decreed in the 1641 Massachusetts…