After a bill is unified, what is the next step in the legislative process?

Once a bill has been unified, which typically means it has passed both chambers of Congress in identical form after reconciling any differences, the subsequent step is to send the bill to the President. This phase is crucial as the President has the authority to either sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without a signature, or veto it.

This part of the legislative process is significant because it represents the final stage of congressional approval before the bill can be enacted. It highlights the checks and balances integral to the U.S. government system, where executive approval is necessary for legislation to take effect.

The other options do not accurately depict what happens next. The bill is not automatically signed into law, nor does it return to committee unless further amendments are necessary, which is not standard procedure at this stage. Additionally, citizens do not vote directly on bills passed by Congress; this is part of a representative democracy where elected officials make those decisions on behalf of their constituents.