Starting a Bill
Ideas for new laws can come from many places. Name one group that can suggest an idea for a bill.
Private citizens, special interest groups, the legislative branch, or the executive branch.
After a bill is introduced, it is sent to one of these small groups in Congress to be studied.
A committee.
Who has the power to sign or veto bills passed by Congress?
The President.
For an amendment to be ratified and added to the Constitution, it must be approved by this fraction of the states.
Three-fourths of the states.
A bill must be introduced by a member of one of these two chambers of Congress. Name both.
The House of Representatives and the Senate.
Many bills are “put aside and forgotten” in committee. This is called being what?
Being pigeonholed.
Before a bill can go to the president, it must pass both of these chambers of Congress.
The House of Representatives and the Senate.
Setting bail at $5 million for a minor crime is an example of violating this amendment, which bans excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.
The Eighth Amendment.
This type of bill applies to everyone in the country or a whole large group.
A public bill.
If a bill is controversial, name one thing a committee can do to learn more before deciding.
Call in experts to testify,
or
Travel to visit locations and do research.
If the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, this special group made of members from both houses meets to work out a compromise.
A conference committee.
A police officer can search someone’s backpack at school if they have this—meaning they see evidence of a crime in plain sight or have a good reason to think a law is being broken.
Probable cause.
This type of bill applies only to a small area, a small group, or even one individual.
A private bill.
A bill is put on the calendar to be discussed “on the floor.” What is “the floor”?
The place in the House or Senate where the whole group meets to debate and discuss bills.
Congress can still make a vetoed bill into law by doing this with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
Overriding the president’s veto.
Is the statement, “Citizens can only participate in government by voting in presidential elections”, true or false? Give one other way citizens can participate in government.
It is false.
Other ways include: voting in local or state elections, contacting representatives, signing petitions, attending protests or town meetings, serving on a jury, or running for office.
When a member of Congress introduces a bill, they drop it in a special box on the clerk’s desk and then the clerk does several jobs.
Name the “hopper” and give two things the clerk does next.
The bill goes in the hopper, and the clerk:
Numbers each bill and adds “H.R.” or “S”;
Gives it a title;
Enter it in the daily record.
Makes copies for each member.
Explain one major difference between how debate works in the House of Representatives and in the Senate.
In the House, members cannot hold the floor for more than about an hour, and the Speaker can make someone stop speaking if they’re off-topic.
In the Senate, senators can talk as long as they want (a filibuster), and it takes 60 senators (a cloture vote) to stop it.
When a bill reaches the president, they have four options. Name one of them.
1. Sign the bill into law.
2. Veto the bill (refuse to sign).
3 . Let it become law without signing it by doing nothing for 10 days while Congress is in session.
4. Use a pocket veto: if Congress adjourns within 10 days and the president does not sign, the bill dies.
Name one right protected by the First Amendment and explain why it is important in a democracy.
First Amendment rights include freedom of speech, religion, the press, assembly, and petition. They are important because they let people share ideas, criticize the government, and practice their beliefs without punishment.