How A Bill Becomes Law

After a bill is introduced in the House or Senate...

• it goes to the entire chamber “floor” for a debate

• it is sent to committee

• a vote is taken in the chamber in which the bill began

• the president considers it

Once a bill is sent to committee...

• the committee may send it to a sub committee for further study

• the committee may hold hearings

• the committee may send it to the entire chamber for a vote “as -is”

• all of the above

What happens in mark up?

• A member of the committee may offer an amendment

• A Senator may filibuster the bill

• The president may veto the bill

• All of the above

How can a filibuster be overcome?

• A cloture vote must pass

• The Speaker or Senate President calls for a recess

• The Vice President issues a veto

• A roll call vote is called, and a majority of Senators must prevail to stop it

What is the purpose of a Conference Committee?

• To prevent a Senator from filibustering the bill

• To consider the validity of any amendments offered on the bill

• To call for a Voice Vote where all members shout “yea” or “nay”

• To work out the differences in a bill if it is not identical to the bill that came out of the other chamber

Once a bill passes the House and the Senate, the President may...

• sign it into law

• pocket veto the bill

• veto the bill

• All of the above

What is the threshold to overcome a presidential veto?

• a majority vote in the Senate

• a 2/3 majority vote in each chamber of Congress

• a simple majority vote in each chamber of Congress

• an upholding by the Supreme Court

A Conference Committee is typically composed of...

• a share of Republicans and Democrats reflective of the chamber as a whole

• an equal number of Republicans and Democrats

• an equal number of Republicans and Democrats, with the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives holding veto power

• an equal number of the most senior Republicans and Democrats from the committee where the bill was first sent