ss.8.C.3.7 Legislative Branch (Assessment #s)

Which of the following is a process of the legislative branch at the national and state levels?

• enforcing a law 

• issuing an executive 

  order

• engaging in judicial 

  review

• confirming a government appointment

Answer explanation

At the national level, the U.S. Senate confirms presidential appointments and other officials such as federal judges, ambassadors, and cabinet positions. At the state level, the Florida Senate confirms governor appointments.

A is Incorrect- Enforcing laws is an executive process. The legislative branch makes laws, and the executive branch enforces the laws.

B is Incorrect- Executive orders are an executive process. The head of the executive branch at the national and state levels can issue executive orders.

D is Incorrect- Judicial review is a process of the judicial branch, granted by Marbury v. Madison (1803). Federal and state courts are responsible for reviewing the constitutionality of laws.

Which role does the Senate have in U.S. foreign policy?

• confirming cabinet 

  secretaries

• nominating ambassadors 

• introducing tariff bills 

• negotiating treaties 

Answer explanation

It is the U.S. Senate’s sole responsibility to confirm cabinet secretaries, including those involved in U.S. foreign policy, such as the Secretary of State.

B is Incorrect- It is the president’s sole responsibility to nominate ambassadors, who must then be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

C is Incorrect- Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution requires that tariff and tax bills be introduced in the House of Representatives although the Senate may “propose or concur” amendments. Tax bills are also examples of domestic policy, not foreign policy.

D is Incorrect- It is the president’s sole responsibility to negotiate treaties on behalf of the United States. Treaties cannot take effect until they have been ratified by the Senate.

This diagram shows some of the steps involved in creating a Florida state law.

What is the next step in this lawmaking process?

• The governor signs the bill into law.

• The bill goes to the Senate for action.

• The people vote on the bill in an election.

• The bill goes to the Supreme Court for a hearing.

Answer explanation

Both the Florida House and the Florida Senate must approve all state bills. Once a bill passes through the FL House, the FL Senate must vote on the bill. If approved, the governor will either sign it into law or veto it.

A is Incorrect- A bill must be approved by both the Florida House and the Senate before the governor can sign the bill into law.

C is Incorrect- The people do not directly vote on bills introduced by the Florida House of Representatives.

D is Incorrect- The Florida Supreme Court does not review bills as part of the state legislative process.

This diagram shows some of the steps involved with a bill becoming

a law at the national level of government. 

What is the first step in this lawmaking process?

• A governor introduces a bill.

• A member of Congress introduces a bill.

• The judicial branch rules if a bill is constitutional.

• The executive branch rules if a bill is constitutional.

Answer explanation

At the national level, bills may be introduced in either the U.S. House of 

Representatives or the U.S. Senate. Tax bills must originate in the House.

A is Incorrect- Governors do not submit bills for review at the national level. National legislation must originate from the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate.

C is Incorrect- The judicial branch does not play a role in reviewing the constitutionality of proposed legislation.

D is Incorrect- The executive branch does not play a role in reviewing the constitutionality of proposed legislation.

Who is responsible for breaking a tie vote in the Florida Senate?

• the speaker of the House of Representatives

• the president of the Senate 

• the lieutenant governor 

• the governor 

Answer explanation

The Florida Constitution requires that the lieutenant governor break ties on Senate actions.

A is Incorrect- The Florida Constitution does not allow a member of the House of Representatives to vote on Senate actions.

B is Incorrect- The Florida Constitution does not allow the president of the Senate to break ties Senate actions.

D is Incorrect- The Florida Constitution does not allow the governor to vote on Senate actions. However, the governor may sign into law or veto bills passed by both houses of the state legislature.

Which action requires accusing a government official of wrongdoing?

• filibuster 

• impeach 

• override 

• pardon 

Answer explanation

Impeachment is a formal accusation of wrongdoing that is brought against government officials.

A is Incorrect- A filibuster is an extended debate.

C is Incorrect- An override occurs when a legislature seeks to undo a veto signed by a chief executive with a two-thirds vote in each house of the legislature.

D is Incorrect- A pardon occurs when a chief executive officially forgives someone charged with a crime or convicted of a crime. If a person has been impeached that person may not be pardoned even if the chief executive wants to pardon that person.

This photograph illustrates an event in U.S. history. 

What was the legislative response to the protest sign shown in this photograph?

• Congress passed a bill that decreased political 

  opportunities.

• Congress passed a bill that increased economic 

  opportunities.

• State legislatures passed bills that decreased military opportunities.

• State legislatures passed bills that increased religious opportunities.

Answer explanation

The protest sign focuses on economic opportunities, including jobs.

A is Incorrect- The protest sign focuses on economic opportunities and does not focus on political opportunities.

C is Incorrect- The statement on the protest sign focuses on jobs and freedom at the national level (note the top of the sign).

D is Incorrect- The protest sign focuses on economic opportunities at the national level (note the top of the sign); the freedom that is identified on the sign is connected with jobs and economic freedom, but not religious freedom.

This chart shows the structures of local, state,

and national governments. 

Which choice best completes the last box in Row 1?

• Chief Justice 

• City Council 

• Representative 

• Senator 

Answer explanation

Row 1 focuses on the institutions that hold

legislative power. City councils hold legislative power at the local government level.

A is Incorrect- Row 1 focuses on the institutions that hold legislative power. Chief justices are members of the judiciary branch and are not legislators in a federal system.

C is Incorrect- Row 1 focuses on the institutions that hold legislative power. A representative is an individual legislator who is a member of a legislative institution.

D is Incorrect- Row 1 focuses on the institutions that hold legislative power. A senator is an individual legislator who is a member of a legislative institution.

Which of the following describes a similarity of the lawmaking process at the national and state levels?

• The judicial branch 

  reviews a bill for 

  constitutionality.

• The judicial branch can propose legislation.

• The head of the 

  executive branch can 

  veto a bill.

• The head of the 

  executive branch 

  appoints legislative 

  committees.

Answer explanation

In the lawmaking process for both levels, a bill may be vetoed. At the national level, the president can veto a bill, and the governor can veto a bill at the state level.

A is Incorrect- The judicial branch decides 

constitutionality of laws through the process of judicial review and not during the lawmaking process. Also, review of laws only occurs when it pertains to a case brought before the court.

B is Incorrect- The legislative branch has the power to propose legislation, an ability not granted to the judicial branch at the national or state levels.

D is Incorrect- In the lawmaking process, each house has its own committees and processes for assignment lawmakers to each. The president does not have a role in legislative committee assignment.

This chart describes the structure and

processes of the national and state legislatures.

What conclusion might be drawn about lawmaking

at the national and state levels?

• The lawmaking process is too complicated to pass effective bills.

• State and national 

  governments use different methods in the lawmaking process.

• Effective lawmaking in state and national 

  legislatures requires 

  consensus to succeed.

• The size of the legislature has no impact on the 

  creation of bills in the lawmaking process.

Answer explanation

Both Congress and state legislatures must have bipartisanship to work together to ensure that bills become laws.

A is Incorrect - While the lawmaking process is complicated, bills do pass and while not all may be as effective as expected, they do function as intended overall. The least effective bills may be the ones most likely not to pass.

B is Incorrect - Because Article IV of the U.S. Constitution guarantees a republican form of government, state governments, including Florida’s, use similar or the same lawmaking approach as Congress.

D is Incorrect - Having a larger number of legislators in the U.S. Congress, which put forward thousands more bills than the Florida legislature, suggests that having more legislators does have an impact on bill creation (proposal).