legislative process US

• where can the bill be introduced?

  house of representatives or senate
• what happens after the bill is introduced?

  referred to a committee which can hold hearings, amend or delay
• what happens after if the committee does not report the bill?

  it fails
• what happens if the committee reports the bill in the house?

  house rules committee grant a rule for a floor debate
• what happens if the committee reports the bill in the senate?

  following the debate, does a majority of members present vote for the bill?
• if a majority of members votes for the bill in the house or senate what happens next if the bills are identical?

  president signs bill
• what happens if a majority of members present vote for the bill but the bills in both chambers are not identical?

  conference committee reconciles differences
• what happens if the president doesn’t sign the bill?

  2/3 of both houses vote for bill and if this happens the bill becomes law