Final answer:
A bill is introduced in the House of Representatives when a representative places it in the 'hopper,' and it is assigned a number and read to the members before going to a committee. After debate and amendments, if a majority vote favors it, the bill goes to the Senate, and if passed, to the President for approval or veto. The President's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote in both houses.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the House of Representatives, a bill is introduced by a representative who places it into the 'hopper,' a special box next to the clerk's desk. The bill clerk then assigns a number beginning with H.R., a reading clerk reads the bill before all members, and the Speaker of the House sends the bill to a standing committee. Each bill requires a sponsor, and typically the representative or senator who has written it will seek the support of other colleagues before introduction. Once it has sufficient support, it is ready to be introduced.
The process following the introduction involves committees that work on, debate, and possibly amend the bill. After the committee stage, which may include hearings and markup sessions, the bill, with or without amendments, is voted on. If the committee votes to advance the bill, it is printed and sent to the House floor, where it is subject to further debate and amendments within the rules set by the House Committee on Rules. A simple majority vote can then send the bill to the Senate.
Only after passing both the House and the Senate does a bill go to the President for approval. The President can sign it into law, let it become law without signing, veto it, or, if Congress adjourns within those ten days (excluding Sundays) and the President takes no action, the bill fails in what is known as a pocket veto. If vetoed, the bill can still become law if both Houses of Congress override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote.