Understanding the Legislative Process

Where does the formal process of a bill becoming a law begin?

• The President's office

• An interest group

• A legislator introducing the bill

• The Supreme Court

Which type of bill must originate in the House of Representatives?

• Defense bills

• Revenue bills

• Healthcare bills

• Education bills

What happens to a bill after it is introduced and referred to a committee?

• It is immediately sent to the President for signature.

• It is debated and voted on by the full chamber.

• The committee writes up the bill in formal legal language and votes on it.

• It is sent to the Supreme Court for review.

What is the term for a Senate rule that allows for amendments to a bill?

• Closed rule

• Strict rule

• Open rule

• Limited rule

Why do open rules make it less likely for bills to pass?

• They limit debate time.

• They require a supermajority vote.

• Opponents can add clauses that make it hard for proponents to vote for the bill.

• They send the bill directly to the President.

What is an extra step that all bills must go through in the House of Representatives before reaching the floor?

• Presidential review

• Senate approval

• Rules Committee

• Public referendum

For a bill to be sent to the President, what must happen in both the House and the Senate?

• It must pass with a two-thirds majority.

• It must be introduced by a member of both chambers.

• The exact same version of the bill must pass both houses.

• It must be approved by the Supreme Court.

What is the purpose of a Conference Committee?

• To introduce new bills.

• To veto bills passed by both houses.

• To reconcile different versions of a bill passed by the House and Senate.

• To advise the President on legislation.

What happens if the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill, and Congress adjourns within 10 days?

• The bill automatically becomes law.

• The bill is sent back to the originating house.

• The bill does not become law (pocket veto).

• The Supreme Court decides the bill's fate.

If the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill, but Congress remains in session for more than 10 days, what happens to the bill?

• It is automatically vetoed.

• It becomes law without the President's signature.

• It is sent to a Conference Committee.

• It is immediately discarded.