process of the lawmaking process or how a bill becomes a law
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Legislation originates at the drafting level. Although only Congress members can
introduce legislation, anyone may draft that legislation. Frequent drafters include expert drafters in the House and Senate offices of legislative counsel, executive agencies, and lobby groups. A Congress member gets legislative ideas from personal experience as well as "the executive branch, interest groups, scholars, state and local officials, constituents, the press and media, and their own staff" (Roger H. Davidson and Walter J. Oleszek "Congress and its Members, 9th ed. page 231). The member who introduces legislation becomes its sponsor; other supporters of the legislation may become co-sponsors.
When a representative introduces a bill in the House, the Speaker usually refers it to a single committee. In 1975, the Speaker was granted authority to refer measures to several committees, known as multiple referrals...