When a bill goes to the "floor," what happens?
The entire House or Senate debates (discusses) the bill.
The bill is thrown away.
The committee meets in secret.
The President signs it.
What must happen for a bill to go to the President finally?
HoR and Senate must pass the exact same version of the bill
The sponsor must pay a fee.
The House must pass it, but the Senate can ignore it.
The citizens must all vote on it.
What is the vice president's main role in Congress?
to appoint the Speaker of the House
to present approved bills to the president
to schedule when bills will be debated
to cast a tie-breaking vote in the Senate
What can a committee do to a bill?
All of the above
They can vote to pass it.
They can make changes to it.
They can vote to "kill" it.
What is an idea for a new law called before it is passed?
A bill
An idea
A veto
A rule
If a committee likes a bill, where does it go next?
Straight to the President
To the newspaper
To the "floor" for the full House or Senate to vote
Back to the citizen who had the idea
If the House of Representatives passes a bill, where does it go?
It goes back to the committee.
It becomes a law right away.
It goes to the Senate to go through the same process.
It goes to the Supreme Court.
What does the Elastic Clause allow Congress to do?
collect taxes
declare war
impeach the president
make new laws as necessary
Can Congress stop a President's veto?
Yes, but it is very difficult.
Yes, if the sponsor asks nicely.
No, the President has the final say.
No, the bill is dead.
To pass the full House or Senate, how many members need to vote "yes"?
A few people
A majority (more than half)
Everyone
Less than half
What do you call the person in Congress who introduces a bill?
The sponsor
The president
The judge
The lobbyist
What is a committee?
A group of citizens who protest
A small group of lawmakers who are experts on a topic
The President's helpers
All 100 Senators
Who is the last person to look at a bill after it passes Congress?
The President
The Vice President
The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
The first sponsor
For a bill to pass the House of Representatives, what is the majority vote needed on the House floor?
435
51
218
67
What do many state legislatures have that the U.S. Congress does not?
term limits
committees
legislative leadership
ability to introduce bills
Who can have an idea for a new bill?
Only members of Congress
Only judges
Any citizen
Only the President
What is it called when a bill is officially made a law?
A Committee Report
An Idea
A Veto
An Act (or Law)
What does it mean for a committee to "kill" a bill?
They change the name of the bill.
They sign it into law.
They send it to the President.
They stop the bill, and it does not get a vote.
What is the correct number of people who serve in the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, in that order?
50 and 535
100 and 435
100 and 535
50 and 435
What is the purpose of legislative appointment confirmation?
maintains balance between small and large states.
provides the power to override presidenal vetoes.
allows legislators to introduce and sponsor bills.
serves as a check on the executive branch.
Why is the law-making process so long and difficult?
All of the above.
To allow for compromise and change.
To make sure no one person has all the power.
To make sure laws are studied and discussed carefully.
If the President vetoes a bill, what happens?
It goes back to Congress for one more chance.
It dies forever.
It becomes a law anyway.
It goes to the Supreme Court to be fixed.
What is the purpose of a conference committee?
settle differences in legislation that passed both houses
to assign representatives to specific committees
investigate a specific government issue or problem
to perform research for individual congressional members
What is it called if the President rejects or says "no" to a bill?
A veto
An override
A signature
An amendment
Who must introduce a bill to Congress to start the process?
A member of Congress
The President
The Supreme Court
A voter
Which power completes the list of Congressional powers?
rafy amendments
create state sales tax
determine local zoning
declare war
Which action is a check of the legislative branch over the judicial branch?
overturn a lower court decision
demote a judge to a lower court
impeach a judge
reduce a judge's salary
After a bill is introduced, where does it go first for study?
To the President
To the Supreme Court
To a committee
To the voters
The House of Representatives brings articles (charges) of impeachment against an official, and the Senate does what?
confirm appointments
approve treaties
try impeachments
apporon funds
To override a veto, what vote does Congress need?
A 1/4 (one-fourth) vote
A majority (more than half)
A 2/3 (two-thirds) "supermajority" vote
A 1/2 (one-half) vote
What word means "to make a change" to a bill?
Veto
Amend
Sponsor
Pass
What is it called when Congress votes to cancel a President's veto?
A committee meeting
A signature
A veto
An override
If the President agrees with the bill, what does he do?
He signs it, and it becomes a law.
He vetoes it.
He asks the citizens to vote.
He sends it back to the committee.
What happens if the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill?
The President picks his favorite version.
They have to start all over with a new idea.
The bill dies.
A "conference committee" meets to make one compromise bill.
For a bill to pass the Senate, what is the majority vote needed on the House floor?
218
15
67
51
What are the two parts (or "houses") of Congress?
The House of Representatives and the Senate
The Supreme Court and the White House
The President and the Vice President
The Democrats and the Republicans