<P> Joint Sessions of the United States Congress occur on special occasions that require a concurrent resolution from both House and Senate . These sessions include counting electoral votes after a presidential election and the president's State of the Union address . The constitutionally - mandated report, normally given as an annual speech, is modeled on Britain's Speech from the Throne, was written by most presidents after Jefferson but personally delivered as a spoken oration beginning with Wilson in 1913 . Joint Sessions and Joint Meetings are traditionally presided over by the Speaker of the House except when counting presidential electoral votes when the Vice President (acting as the President of the Senate) presides . </P> <P> Ideas for legislation can come from members, lobbyists, state legislatures, constituents, legislative counsel, or executive agencies . Anyone can write a bill, but only members of Congress may introduce bills . Most bills are not written by Congress members, but originate from the Executive branch; interest groups often draft bills as well . The usual next step is for the proposal to be passed to a committee for review . A proposal is usually in one of these forms: </P> <Ul> <Li> Bills are laws in the making . A House - originated bill begins with the letters "H.R." for "House of Representatives", followed by a number kept as it progresses . </Li> <Li> Joint resolutions . There is little difference between a bill and a joint resolution since both are treated similarly; a joint resolution originating from the House, for example, begins "H.J. Res ." followed by its number . </Li> <Li> Concurrent Resolutions affect only both the House and Senate and accordingly are not presented to the president for approval later . In the House, they begin with "H. Con. Res ." </Li> <Li> Simple resolutions concern only the House or only the Senate and begin with "H. Res ." or "S. Res ." </Li> </Ul> <Li> Bills are laws in the making . A House - originated bill begins with the letters "H.R." for "House of Representatives", followed by a number kept as it progresses . </Li>

The called for congress to have a senate and a house of representatives