Final answer:
A bill is introduced when a legislator, known as its sponsor, writes the bill and gains support from other representatives or senators. The bill is then placed in the hopper and assigned a number before being read to all members of the House and sent to a standing committee.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bill is introduced when a legislator or a group of legislator who is known as its sponsor writes the bill and talks with other representatives or senators to gain their support.
Once a bill has a sponsor and the support of additional representatives or senators, it is ready to be introduced. In the US House of Representatives, a bill is introduced by placing it in the hopper, a special box on the side of the clerk's desk. It is then assigned a number that begins with H.R., and a reading clerk reads the bill to all members in the House before it is sent to one of the House standing committees.
The bill's introduction is an important step in the legislative process, as it sets the stage for further debate, amendment, and voting.