How A Bill Becomes A Law

If a Congress person likes an idea for a law, they may decide to sponsor it, which means they’ll introduce the idea in Congress as a ________________

• branch

• bill

• committee

Although Congress can pass many laws such as those about food safety, they cannot pass any law they want. The powers granted to Congress are described in ___

• Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution

• the House of Representatives and the Senate

• the Declaration of Independence

For a bill to become a law, it must first pass through a ___________________________, which are groups that specialize on certain types of laws

• committee

• senate

• bicameral

There are 18 Constitutional clauses listing the powers given to Congress. These powers are clearly stated and are called __________

• lawmaking powers

• implied or unclear powers

• express or enumerated powers

The House of Representatives has ___________ members; 218 have to vote for the bill to pass

• 100

• 435

• 235

Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 also says Congress can also do what is necessary and proper. These are called ____ powers (because they are not specifically listed)

• constitutional

• understood

• implied

So, the process to pass a bill is: Committee, Discussion, Debate and vote. Then, if a bill passes both Houses of Congress it goes to _____________________________

• the President

• the Committee

• the Senate

We have a system of Checks and Balances so that no one branch is too powerful. So, the President can sign the bill and it becomes a law or the president can ______________ it (and the bill does NOT become a law)

• constituent

• sign

• veto

Clause 18 of the Constitution sometimes is called the "elastic clause" because ____

• it allows Congress the power to pass any law even if it goes against the Constitution

• it allows Congress to stretch its powers to meet new needs

• it allows Congress to force the other branches to give in

An important way that Congress raises money is by ______________

• requiring citizens to pay taxes

• printing money on a special copier

• asking for donations from Executive Branch