The legislative process begins when bills or joint resolutions are introduced in either the House or the Senate.

Bills are the most common form of legislation. Public bills pertain to matters of interest to the general public, while private bills affect individuals and smaller organizations.

Joint resolutions go through the same legislative process as bills, and have the same force of law if passed. They typically relate to narrower matters such as specific appropriations.

Bills and joint resolutions are assigned a number in the order in which they are introduced for each Congress. They are abbreviated as follows:

• H.R. = House Bill
• S. = Senate Bill
• H.J. Res. = House Joint Resolution
• S.J. Res. = Senate Joint Resolution

There are two other types of legislation, simple and concurrent resolutions, but only bills and joint resolutions become law.

A simple resolution affects the business or procedures of the chamber from which it originates, or expresses the opinion of that chamber on some issue. A concurrent resolution affects the business of both houses or expresses the opinion of the Congress as a whole.

Multiple versions of bills are common. When a bill is reported out of committee, amended, or approved by one chamber, a new version is printed.

See GPO Access - Congressional Bills Glossary for more information, definitions, and abbreviations.