how are laws passed in the u.s.?

Answer 1

This is an example:

A lightbulb company gives a congressman kickbacks to introduce legislation requiring use of the type of lightbulb they manufacture. The congressman introduces legislation to the house, lies a lot, pull favors from prior votes, and imposes another senseless law on people who used to be free.

Answer 2

A bill or idea is presented to a member of congress. The Member then proceeds to turn the idea into legal language address the current laws to accommodate what you would like to add. Then the bill is introduced and sent to a congressional policy committee to present its case. If it passes, it will be sent either to another policy committee or to a fiscal (money/budget committee) to be heard. If it passes there it is sent to the floor of the House it was introduced in (Senate or House of Representatives) for a vote. Again, if it passes the floor of origin, it is sent to the other house to follow the same procedures. If the bill has been changed in the other house it is sent back to the house of origin and through the committees and sent to the floor again for what is called a concurrence vote. If it passes all the committees and floors, it is sent to the President to sign or veto. If it is signed, it becomes law, if it is vetoed it usually disappears until the next legislative session.

Answer 3

There are federal laws and state laws.
Federal laws are introduced in the House of Representatives or the Senate by one or more of their members. The majority party decides what committees of members will review and modify them (or bury them.) When reported out of committee, the entire House or Senate votes on them. If passed, it goes to the other one. Often similar bills are introduced on both sides or the bill is amended. Then a joint committee is appointed to negociate changes so the resulting bill has a chance of passing both houses by a simple majority. Once it passes, it is sent to the president who has to act on it in a certain time. If he vetoes it, both houses have to vote for it again but with 2/3's of the members having to vote for it.
State legislatures usually operate about the same way.
Certain bills, such as money, must start in certain places.
In some states, the governor can propose bills. The president can not, but this is usually not a problem because he can ask members of his party in Congress to introduce them.

Answer 4

Our Senators and House of Representatives go to the halls of congress and scream and cry and blame other people and accuse the President of sending US troops over to get their heads blown off.