How a federal bill becomes law

From an idea to a law passed by Congress and signed by the President.

Introduced: A member of the House or Senate files the bill. Others can join as cosponsors.
Committee: A committee studies it, may hold hearings and amend it, then votes.
Floor vote: The full chamber debates and votes (in the Senate, 60 votes to end debate).
Other chamber: The other chamber passes the same text, or both agree on a final version.
President: Signs it into law, or vetoes it. Two-thirds of both chambers can override.
Law: It becomes a public law and is added to the U.S. Code.

Most bills never get past committee. Watching which ones get a recorded vote tells you what is actually moving.

What you can do

Follow federal bills on this site, or search them.
Ask your members to cosponsor or vote a certain way while a bill is in committee; that is when it is easiest to change. See contacting officials.

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Sponsor and cosponsor: The sponsor is the member who introduces a bill and leads it. Cosponsors are other members who sign on to show support.
Cloture: A U.S. Senate vote to end debate on a measure, which usually needs 60 votes. It is how the Senate ends a filibuster.
Filibuster: Using long debate or other delay to block or slow a vote in the U.S. Senate.
Veto: The power of a president or governor to reject a bill passed by the legislature. Lawmakers can override a veto with a large enough vote (two-thirds of each chamber in Congress).
Statute: A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.