Here are the general steps in the ratification process and the documents yielded by each.
Bill introduced by sponsor to House or Senate
>> bill text
>> remarks
Bill referred to committee or subcommittee for consideration
>> prints
>> hearings
>> documents
>> amendments
>> committee votes
Committee reports bill and recommendations to full chamber
>> report
Bill considered by full chamber
>> debate and vote
With a vote of approval in one chamber, the bill then moves to the other chamber
>> bill tracking
Bill moves through other chamber via committee consideration, reporting, etc.
>> debate and vote
If parallel bills are moving through each chamber, the two are reconciled by a conference committee and reported to the full chambers via a conference report
>> report, debate and vote
Bill sent to President for signing
>> engrossed bill
>> signing statement
If vetoed, bill returns to congress for vote
>> vote
Once passed, bill becomes public law, numbered sequentially
>> act, slip law (P.L., Statutes at Large)
Then codified by topic
>> U.S.C. (USCA, USCS)
There can be several twists and turns in a bill's journey through Congress. When in doubt ask a librarian!
Legislative history documents are not created equal. Some documents have been given more weight by courts. Committee reports, sponsor remarks and hearing transcripts top the charts. Less persuasive are failed bill versions, remarks by those outside Congress and subsequent history.
For more information, consult the treatises listed in the "Why do Legislative History?" box on the Welcome page.
Congressional Procedures and the Policy Process, 8th Edition by The increasing partisan nature of the Congress in the last thirty years has affected the legislative process. Check out these more recent books on the new nuances of legislative procedure.
Congressional Practice and Procedure by 
Unorthodox Lawmaking: New Legislative Processes in the US Congress by 
