<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> <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>

What do members of congress do everyday while congress is in session