Lawmaking in New York

Getting  a law passed in New York appears to be quite impossible to the average man, and unsurprisingly it actually is; with bureaucratic red tape wound so tightly around legislation of laws, it is virtually impossible for anyone other than those sitting the the state offices worrying about their high cholesterol to make any great idea into a law. Sure here and there a few upright, progressive people made it into the legislative branch, but I pessimistically believe they are few and far between. And while lobbying can bring the common man's needs into the light, it can only go so far. Lawmakers will only pass what they see fit, or what helps their personal agenda.

In order for an idea to become a law, it must be first be proposed as a bill; then, its next step toward becoming a law is in the hands of the Governor, Head of Senate, and Head of the State Assembly; these three decide whether the bill will live or die, in a private meeting, not accessible even through the Open Meeting Law. This seems a bit odd, since the public should be aware which potential lawsare being tossed out  with the half eaten lunches of these bureaucrats. If the bill makes it through  this meeting, it next heads to the assembly, which has a party caucus , yet another private meeting to which the press is not allowed. While I can sympathize with the idea that politicians don't want a crowd of journalists barging in and demanding facts, this caucus seems like it should be accessible; at least the assembly could have some sort of press release about it. After the bill passes through this, it must be approved by the Senate and Assembly. And eventually, with enough luck it will become a law.

On a Federal level, and in an attempt to make this red tape a bit easier to understand, laws are made through a system in which the Senate and House of representatives propose a bill (usually an idea of a politician, perhaps promised during his or her election campaign); only Congress has this power of proposition. The bill is then passed on to the appropriate committee for editing and analysis; this committee can choose to change the language of the bill, refer the bill to another committee, or report back to Congress. The committee's analysis is then sent back to be voted upon. The next bill must then pass in the Senate and House, after which it must be signed or vetoed by the president. If it is successfully signed, the bill becomes a law; if not, the bill is then sent back to Congress and a veto-override could be a result, in which case the bill becomes a law.

While the First Amendment guarantees the freedom of speech and assembly, it does  not guarantee that lawmakers will listen. So this brings us to the question, what is one to do about this? You can't do much other than lobby and petition your heart out! Make yourself heard, and perhaps those few who will honestly listen to the public without holding their own interests first will facilitate the changes you seek.

(Rereading this, it sounds a bit charged and pessimistic, but actually my beliefs are not this heated on the subject....)