Steps in Making a Bill into a Law
Introducing the Bill and Referral to a Committee
Everybody in Congress can create a bill. The people who initiate the bill are the sponsors; any member of the same body (House or Senate) can add his or her name after the day of introduction as a cosponsor.
When a bill first starts out, it is given a certain number: H.R. stands for a House bill and S. a Senate bill. The bill is then submitted to a committee with authority over the main issue of the legislation. Sometimes, a bill will be referred to multiple committees. The bill is referred sometimes to a s…