Step 1: An idea for a bill is established by a citizen.
Step 2: The idea of the bill is developed and is written.
Step 3: A member of Congress officially introduces the bill to Congress by becoming a sponsor for the bill.
Step 4: Representatives of the bill try to gain support for the bill in hopes of it becoming a law.
Step 5: In the House, the sponsor of the bill (member of Congress) places the bill in a special box (the hopper) to properly introduce the bill.
Step 6: In the House, a bill clerk assigns the bill a number. All house bills begin with “H.R.”
Step 7: In the Senate, the sponsor of the bill (member of Congress) places the bill on the officer’s desk to introduce the bill to the Senate Floor.
Step 8: In the Senate, a bill clerk assigns the bill a number. All senate bills begin with “S.”
Step 9: The bill is then read on the House Floor.
Step 10: The bill is then transferred to a committee for a markup.
Step 11: An electronic copy of the bill is sent to the Library of Congress and the status of the bill is then posted on the Congress Bill Search which is a website opened to the public.
Step 12: The committee that takes the bill places it on their calendar and marks it up for changes.
Step 13: The committee members debate on the mark ups and vote to either accept or reject the changes on the bill.
Step 14: If the committee deems the bill not worthy enough, then the bill is stopped and tabled.
Step 15: If the bill is approved, it is sent to a subcommittee for intensive analysis or back to the House Floor.
Step 16: If the bill is sent to a subcommittee, it is placed on the calendar to be studied by experts, supporters, and opponents.
Step 17: The bill can be tabled if it is deemed unimportant for the public.
Step 18: Once subcommittee members vote to accept the changes, the bill is sent back to the full committee for acceptance or denial.
Step 19: The bill is then released from the committee with a report explaining all the changes on the bill.
Step 20: The bill is then put on one of the five House calendars to be reviewed.
Step 21: The bill is then sent onto the House Floor for consideration.
Step 22: Once sent onto the House Floor, the bill is debated by the members of the House.
Step 23: The house bills are debated through a parliamentary device known as the Committee of the Whole
Step 24: The debate is controlled by the Rules of the House and is governed under a special rule granted for the bill under consideration.
Step 25: The bill is read a second time except this time amendments may be offered.
Step 26: The bill is read a third time to conclude the debate on the amendments for the bill.
Step 27: The House then votes on the bill after the bill is read by title.
Step 28: Members vote to either pass or not pass the bill electronically using the Electronic Voting System.
Step 29: Memb...
