What is a proposed law called?

A proposed law is referred to as a "bill." This term specifically denotes legislation that is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. The process of creating a bill begins when a member of Congress proposes an idea for new legislation. After being drafted, the bill goes through various stages of debate, amendment, and approval before it can become law.

Once passed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President, a bill becomes an act. Therefore, while "act" describes a law that has been enacted, "bill" specifically refers to the proposed version of that law before it undergoes the legislative process. The terms "statute" and "ordinance" are related to laws but refer to different contexts; statutes are laws enacted by a legislative body, often at the state or federal level, while ordinances generally refer to local laws enacted by municipalities. Thus, "bill" is the correct term for a proposal before it becomes law.