Under the constitution, bills can originate in either house of congress with the exception of

Under the constitution, appropriation bills must begin in the House of Representatives rather than in the senate. Appropriations bills are bills which provide funding for the activities of the government. Becuse these funding bills must originate in the House of Representatives, it is commonly said that the House "holds the purse strings." The only other type of bill that must begin in one chamber rather than the other are Bills of Impeachment, which also must begin in the House.