Process and Structure
The formal process for a new law
What is a bill?
If a committee chair refuses to hold one of these, the bill is effectively dead
What is a hearing?
This chamber has stricter limits on debate time
What is the House of Representatives?
A tactic where senators prolong debate to delay action on a bill
What is a filibuster?
This 1974 act helped transform the modern legislative process
What is the Budget and Impoundment Control Act?
Only these people can officially introduce a bill in Congress
What are members of Congress?
Experts, lobbyists, and agency officials often testify during this stage
What are hearings?
This chamber allows senators to debate for extended periods of time
What is the Senate?
The word “filibuster” comes from this language
What is Dutch?
A large package bill combining many measures into one is called this
What is an omnibus bill?
According to the Constitution, bills raising revenue must begin here
What is the House of Representatives?
The process by which committees revise and amend a bill
What is markup?
In the House, this committee determines rules for debate and amendments
What is the Rules Committee?
Senate Rule 22 created this procedure to end debate
What is cloture?
Modern congressional leadership often uses these to control debate in the House
What are special rules?
This congressional advisor interprets chamber rules and procedures
What is a parliamentarian?
When a committee chooses not to advance a bill, it is usually this
What is tabled?
This is the percentage needed in the House to pass a bill
What is a simple majority? (50 percent plus 1)
Today, this number of votes is usually needed to invoke cloture
What is 60 votes?
Referring a bill to multiple committees is called this
What is multiple referral?
This congressional leader decides how a bill moves through committee
Who is the committee chair?
Before reaching the House floor, bills must go through this committee
What is the House Committee on Rules?
The Senate often places bills here before debate begins
Senator Strom Thurmond famously filibustered this legislation for over 24 hours
What is the Civil Rights Act?
The modern filibuster effectively raises the votes needed to pass legislation from 51 to this number
What is 60?