<P> At some time during the first two months of each session, the President customarily delivers the State of the Union Address, a speech in which he assesses the situation of the country and outlines his legislative proposals for the congressional session . The speech is modeled on the Speech from the Throne given by the British monarch, and is mandated by the Constitution of the United States--though it is not necessarily required to be delivered each year or in the customary manner . Thomas Jefferson discontinued the original practice of delivering the speech in person before both houses of Congress, deeming it too monarchical . Instead, Jefferson and his successors sent a written message to Congress each year . In 1913, President Woodrow Wilson reestablished the practice of personally attending to deliver the speech; few Presidents have deviated from this custom since . </P> <P> Joint Sessions and Joint Meetings are traditionally presided over by the Speaker of the House except for the joint session to count electoral votes for President, when the Constitution requires the President of the Senate (the Vice President of the United States) to preside . </P> <P> Ideas for legislation can come from many areas, including members, lobbyists, state legislatures, constituents, legislative counsel, an executive agency such as the president or cabinet officer or executive agency, and the usual next step is for the proposal to be passed to a committee for review . A proposal has usually one of four principal forms: the bill, the joint resolution, the concurrent resolution, and the simple resolution . </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 . It is presented to the president after both Houses agree . </Li> <Li> Joint resolutions There is little practical 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 the House and Senate, and accordingly aren't presented to the president for approval later . In the House, it begins with "H. Con. Res ." </Li> <Li> Simple resolutions concern only the House or only the Senate and begin with "H. Res ." </Li> </Ul>

Where does a piece of legislation start in congress