Who investigates the potential impacts of legislation and prepares bills for consideration by the House?

In the context of the United States, the responsibility for investigating the potential impacts of legislation and preparing bills for consideration by the House of Representatives is typically shared among several entities:

1. Individual Members of Congress: Members of the House may draft bills themselves or with the assistance of their staff, based on their legislative priorities and the needs of their constituents.

2. Congressional Committees: The House has numerous standing committees, each focusing on a particular area of public policy. These committees play a crucial role in the legislative process. They investigate and evaluate issues within their jurisdiction, and they may draft legislation on those topics. Committee hearings allow experts, public officials, and other stakeholders to provide testimony on the potential impacts of proposed legislation.

3. Congressional Support Agencies: The United States Congress is supported by several nonpartisan agencies that provide expertise and analysis to inform the legislative process. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is one such agency that provides cost estimates and economic impact analyses for proposed legislation. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) also researches policy issues and can assesses the implications of legislative proposals.

4. Interest Groups and Lobbyists: While not formally part of the legislative branch, such entities may draft model bills or suggest legislative language to lawmakers, advocating for their views on how legislation should be shaped to address particular issues.

Once a bill is drafted and introduced by a member of the House, it is typically referred to one or more committees that have jurisdiction over its subject matter. The committees will conduct further scrutiny and may make amendments before sending the bill back to the full House for consideration.