a bill may be proposed by anyone but only a member of congress, called the bill's sponsor, may introduce them on the floor of one of the houses of congress. a bill may be introduced in both the senate and house at the same time. in theory, this saves time over sending it though one house, then the other. in each house of congress, a bill is sent to a committee. a committee studies the bill and recommends changes. if a committee does nothing, the bill is considered "dead". a committee may also add other unrelated provisions to a bill called amendments. committees usually divide themselves into smaller groups called subcommittees. the bill's sponsors then try to convince the subcommittees to approve the bill. they do this through hearings. if the bill passes through a committee it is sent to the floor for debate and a vote. a bill may either be passed by be defeated. if passed, it is sent to the other house of congress to follow the same procedures.