Committees
The House
The Senate
The President
One last question
100
What is the primary function of a legislative committee in the U.S. Congress?
A) To pass laws without a vote
B) To review, amend, and debate bills before they go to the full chamber
C) To handle foreign relations directly
D) To impeach the President
B) To review, amend, and debate bills before they go to the full chamber
100
What is the first step in the lawmaking process in the House of Representatives?
A) Debate on the House floor
B) A vote by the Senate
C) Introduction of a bill by a member of the House
D) Approval by the President
C) Introduction of a bill by a member of the House
100
After a bill passes in the House of Representatives, what is the next step in the Senate?
A) The Senate votes on the bill immediately
B) The bill is sent to a Senate committee for review
C) The President must sign it before the Senate can consider it
D) It is debated by all Senators on the Senate floor
B) The bill is sent to a Senate committee for review
100
Once a bill has passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, what is the President’s first option?
A) Sign the bill into law
B) Send the bill to the Supreme Court
C) Rewrite the bill
D) Have Congress vote on it again
A) Sign the bill into law
100
For your entertainment and maybe a bit of a refresher ;)
200
Which of the following is an example of a standing committee in the U.S. Congress?
A) Select Committee on Benghazi
B) Ways and Means Committee
C) Conference Committee on Tax Reform
D) Joint Committee on Printing
B) Ways and Means Committee
200
Once a bill is introduced in the House of Representatives, where is it sent first?
A) The Senate for approval
B) The President for signature
C) The Rules Committee
D) A relevant House committee for review and discussion
D) A relevant House committee for review and discussion
200
What is a filibuster in the Senate?
A) A tactic used to delay or block the Senate from voting on a bill
B) A formal agreement between the Senate and the President
C) A process used to speed up the voting on a bill
D) A rule that limits the number of amendments that can be made to a bill
A) A tactic used to delay or block the Senate from voting on a bill
200
If the President does not agree with a bill passed by Congress, what can the President do?
A) Change the bill and then sign it
B) Veto the bill
C) Send it back to committee for revisions
D) Call for an immediate Supreme Court review
B) Veto the bill
300
What is the difference between a select committee and a standing committee?
A) Select committees are permanent, while standing committees are temporary
B) Standing committees are permanent, while select committees are temporary
C) Select committees only deal with international issues
D) Standing committees do not have the power to pass legislation
B) Standing committees are permanent, while select committees are temporary
300
What is the role of the House Rules Committee in the law-making process?
A) To introduce bills to the House floor
B) To determine how a bill will be debated and amended on the House floor
C) To vote on final passage of a bill
D) To decide if a bill becomes law without Senate approval
B) To determine how a bill will be debated and amended on the House floor
300
How can the Senate end a filibuster and proceed to vote on a bill?
A) By unanimous consent of all Senators
B) By getting the President’s approval
C) By invoking cloture, which requires a 3/5 majority (60 votes)
D) By sending the bill back to the House of Representatives
C) By invoking cloture, which requires a 3/5 majority (60 votes)
300
What happens if the President vetoes a bill?
A) The bill is automatically rejected and cannot become law
B) Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers
C) The bill is sent to the Supreme Court for approval
D) The bill becomes law after 10 days regardless of the veto
B) Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority in both chambers
400
How do committee chairpersons usually gain their positions in Congress?
A) They are appointed by the President
B) They are chosen by popular vote of the entire Congress
C) They are selected by the majority party, often based on seniority
D) They rotate monthly among committee members
C) They are selected by the majority party, often based on seniority
400
How is a vote conducted in the House of Representatives on a bill?
A) By the Speaker of the House alone
B) By unanimous decision of all members
C) Through a simple majority vote of the members present
D) By public referendum
C) Through a simple majority vote of the members present
400
What is the role of the Senate in the final stage of the legislative process?
A) To introduce amendments after a bill becomes law
B) To hold a final vote before sending the bill to the President
C) To rewrite the bill if they disagree with the House
D) To approve the bill with no changes and send it directly to the Supreme Court
B) To hold a final vote before sending the bill to the President
400
If the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill within 10 days while Congress is in session, what happens?
A) The bill automatically becomes law
B) The bill is automatically vetoed
C) The bill is sent to the Supreme Court for a decision
D) The bill is sent back to Congress for another vote
A) The bill automatically becomes law
500
What is the role of a conference committee in the legislative process?
A) To introduce new bills to Congress
B) To reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
C) To veto bills passed by both chambers
D) To advise the President on policy issues
B) To reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
500
What happens if a bill passes in the House of Representatives?
A) It becomes law immediately
B) It goes to the President for approval
C) It goes to the Senate for consideration
D) It is sent back to the House committees for revision
C) It goes to the Senate for consideration
500
If the Senate and House of Representatives pass different versions of the same bill, what happens next?
A) The President decides which version becomes law
B) The bill automatically fails and must be reintroduced
C) A conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences
D) The Senate version is always considered final
C) A conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences
500
What is a pocket veto?
A) When the President vetoes a bill in private, without informing Congress
B) When the President rejects a bill by not signing it while Congress is adjourned
C) When Congress asks the President to reconsider a vetoed bill
D) When the President vetoes a portion of the bill but not the whole bill
B) When the President rejects a bill by not signing it while Congress is adjourned
500
Your short answer question will be the following:
Explain in detail the process that a bill would follow assuming it passes every step along the way as well as what options the president has once the bill is sent to him.
This should help, but you will need more information about the President. Refer to those questions on this board for help.