Bill to Law
Steps 1-3
2) A senator or representative has to introduce a bill before Congress will consider it. Every bill that gets submitted is given a title and a number.
3) When a bill gets introduced, it's sent to the standing committee that is related to the subject of the bill. Standing committees have life-and-death power over bills. The committee can: pass the bill, mark up a bill with changes and suggest that it be passed, replace the original bill with a new bill, ignore the bill and let it die or kill the bill outright by majority vote.
Steps 4-7
5) Conference committee works out differences and sends identical compromise bill to both chambers for final approval. House and Senate both vote on a compromise bill.
6) After a bill gets debated, it is brought to a vote. There are various types of vote; a voice vote, a standing vote, and a roll-call vote.
7) After a bill is approved it goes to the president. One of four things may happen, he can sign it and declare a new law, he can veto, he can let it die, or he can do a pocket veto.