---
title: "How It Becomes Law Matrix | A Government That Works for the People"
canonical: "https://govthatworks.org/how-it-becomes-law"
description: "Search and filter the complete Appendix B matrix by federal statute, congressional rule, constitutional amendment, or state action."
---
Appendix B

# How It Becomes Law

The book separates policy substance from the legal mechanism needed to enact it. Appendix B maps each major reform to the vehicle that actually carries it.

This matrix describes the book’s legal classification. It does not predict political support, litigation outcomes, or enactment.

**Read the source chapter in the book**Appendix B — Legal Vehicles

[Open Appendix B](/reader?ch=appendix-b#appendix-b)

Appendix B

## Most of the plan is not an Article V question.

This matrix reproduces Appendix B’s classification of the book’s major reforms by legal vehicle, implementing lead, and dependency. “Statute” means ordinary federal law; “Rule” means a House or Senate rule; “State” means state action; and “Amendment” means the reform itself requires constitutional change. Some rows list more than one route because a statute can do part of the work now while an amendment would entrench it.

All proposalsCongressional Rules (Immediate)Federal Statutes (Ordinary Majority)Constitutional Amendments (Article V)State / Local Action

Appendix B rows shown. The “ordinary majority” label describes the legal vehicle, not a prediction that a proposal would pass under any particular Senate procedure.

| Proposal | Chapter | Legal vehicle | Primary implementing lead | Key dependencies |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |

**Read the source chapter in the book**Appendix B — Legal Vehicles

[Open Appendix B](/reader?ch=appendix-b#appendix-b)