<P> Any member of Congress may introduce a bill at any time while the House is in session by placing it in the hopper on the Clerk's desk . A sponsor's signature is required, and there can be many co-sponsors . It's assigned a number by the Clerk . Then it's referred to a committee . Committees study each bill intensely at this stage . </P> <P> The most important executive communication is usually the president's annual message which contains a lengthy budget proposal . Drafting statutes is an art that requires "great skill, knowledge, and experience ." Congressional committees sometimes draft bills after studies and hearings covering periods of a year or more . A proposal may be introduced in Congress as a bill, a joint resolution, a concurrent resolution, or a simple resolution . Most legislative proposals are introduced as bills, but some are introduced as joint resolutions . There is little practical difference between the two, except that joint resolutions may include preambles but bills may not . Joint resolutions are the normal method used to propose a constitutional amendment or to declare war . On the other hand, concurrent resolutions (passed by both houses) and simple resolutions (passed by only one house) do not have the force of law . Instead, they serve to express the opinion of Congress, or to regulate procedure . In many cases, lobbyists write legislation and submit it to a member for introduction . Congressional lobbyists are legally required to be registered in a central database . </P> <P> Bills may be introduced by any member of either house . However, the Constitution provides that: "All bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives ." As a result, the Senate does not have the power to initiate bills imposing taxes . Furthermore, the House of Representatives holds that the Senate does not have the power to originate appropriation bills, or bills authorizing the expenditure of federal funds . Historically, the Senate has disputed the interpretation advocated by the House . However, whenever the Senate originates an appropriations bill, the House simply refuses to consider it, thereby settling the dispute in practice . Nevertheless, while the Senate cannot originate revenue and appropriation bills, it does retain the power to amend or reject them . A congressional act in 1974 established procedures to try to establish appropriate annual spending levels . </P> <P> Each bill goes through several stages in each house . The first stage involves consideration by a committee which often seeks input from relevant departments as well as requests feedback from the Government Accountability Office . Most legislation is considered by standing committees, each of which has jurisdiction over a particular subject matter, such as Agriculture or Appropriations . The House has twenty standing committees; the Senate has sixteen . Standing committees meet at least once each month . Almost all standing committee meetings for transacting business must be open to the public unless the committee votes, publicly, to close the meeting . Open committee meetings may be covered by the media . In some cases, bills may be sent to select committees, which tend to have more narrow jurisdictions than standing committees . If a bill is important, the committee may set a date for public hearings announced by the committee's chairman . Each standing and select committee is led by a chair (who belongs to the majority party) and a ranking member (who belongs to the minority party). Witnesses and experts can present their case for or against a bill . Sometimes transcripts of these meetings are made public . Then, a bill may go to what's called a mark - up session where committee members debate the bill's merits and may offer amendments or revisions . Committees are permitted to hold hearings and collect evidence when considering bills . They may also amend the bill, but the full house holds the power to accept or reject committee amendments . After considering and debating a measure, the committee votes on whether it wishes to report the measure to the full house . Not reporting a bill or tabling it means it has been rejected . If amendments to a bill are extensive, then sometimes a new bill with all the amendments built in will be written, sometimes known as a clean bill with a new number . </P>

Who is allowed to introduce a bill in congress
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