Types of Bills and Resolutions Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is congress.gov primarily designed to do?

  • Provide legal advice to lawmakers
  • Open the lawmaking process to citizens (correct)
  • Serve as a lobbying platform for special interests
  • Publish statistical analyses of legislation

    • Which of the following is TRUE about the Congressional Quarterly (CQ)?

  • It is primarily a grassroots organization.
  • It publishes a limited number of materials compared to its competitors.
  • It has a large staff of reporters and researchers. (correct)
  • It is a free resource funded by the government.

    • What event occurred in 2004 regarding members of Congress?

  • They included riders to block a commission's ruling. (correct)
  • They eliminated the Congressional Record.
  • They passed a budget with no appropriations.
  • They banned overtime pay for workers.

    • What type of content can users expect to find on congress.gov?

    <p>Full texts and versions of House and Senate bills (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which service did Senator Charles Schumer express support for in 2012?

    <p>Congress.gov for transparency in legislative processes (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What unique feature does congress.gov offer that aids citizens in understanding legislation?

    <p>Brief videos explaining the legislative process (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one limitation of the Roll Call website?

    <p>It requires a subscription fee to access its content. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do the riders added to appropriations bills affect the legislative process?

    <p>They can block important rulings from being enacted. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in the legislative process for a bill?

    <p>The bill is written. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group proposes about half of all bills passed?

    <p>The executive branch (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is a bill introduced in the House of Representatives?

    <p>A member drops it into the hopper. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to a bill after it is introduced?

    <p>It is assigned a title and number. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can a committee do if it wants to reject a bill?

    <p>Ignore it and let it die. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one option a committee has when reviewing a bill?

    <p>Rewrite the bill completely. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What action can committee members take if they support a bill?

    <p>Submit amendments and recommendations. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role do committee chairs have in the legislative process?

    <p>They can send a bill to a subcommittee. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common tactic used by opponents to obstruct a bill's progress in Congress?

    <p>Add many amendments to create disagreements (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required for a bill to be amended during the voting process in Congress?

    <p>A majority vote of members present (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which voting method is NOT used in the House for recording votes?

    <p>Secret ballot (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens if the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill?

    <p>A conference committee is formed to resolve differences (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is true about the passage of a bill before it becomes law?

    <p>Both houses must pass the bill in identical form (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the House of Representatives streamline the voting process?

    <p>By using electronic recorded votes (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary function of a conference committee in Congress?

    <p>To negotiate and resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does quorum refer to in the legislative voting context?

    <p>The minimum number of members required to conduct business (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is typically the primary purpose of a committee report?

    <p>To summarize the opinions on the bill and the committee's changes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Under what circumstances might a committee report a bill without recommending its passage?

    <p>The committee believes the bill deserves consideration by the whole House (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs during the floor debate of a bill?

    <p>Proposed amendments can be introduced unless a closed rule is in effect (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to a bill after its second reading during the floor debate?

    <p>It is read section by section, and amendments may be proposed (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a closed rule imply during the floor debate?

    <p>No amendments can be proposed to the bill (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following might indicate that a bill is experiencing difficulties in the legislative process?

    <p>The bill has been assigned to a committee with no scheduled hearing (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common method for lawmakers to modify proposed legislation?

    <p>Proposing amendments during the floor debate (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which situation might a bill be described as 'pigeonholed'?

    <p>The bill has been assigned to a committee and is not being actively considered (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a conference report?

    <p>The final bill drafted by conferees from each house. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to a bill if the president does not sign it within 10 days while Congress is in session?

    <p>It automatically becomes a law. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How can Congress override a presidential veto?

    <p>By a two-thirds vote in both houses. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is required for a bill to be registered after becoming law?

    <p>Registration with the National Archives and Records Service. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why do few bills become law in Congress?

    <p>The process is long, complicated, and requires compromise. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a pocket veto?

    <p>When the president ignores a bill until Congress adjourns. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What occurs after a bill is signed by the president?

    <p>It is assigned a public law number and registered. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does compromise play in the legislative process?

    <p>It is essential to gain enough support to move a bill forward. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main characteristic of a private bill?

    <p>It deals with individual people or specific locations. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of resolution is adopted solely to address issues of one house of Congress?

    <p>Simple resolution (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens if a bill is not passed before the end of a congressional session?

    <p>It may be reintroduced in the next session of Congress. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements is true regarding public bills?

    <p>They tackle general matters affecting the entire nation. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a rider in legislative terms?

    <p>To add provisions unrelated to the primary subject of the bill. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What typically happens to most bills introduced in Congress?

    <p>They die before becoming law. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a joint resolution?

    <p>A resolution passed in the same form by both houses. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Academic Vocabulary

    • amend: to change or alter
    • interactive: relating to a two-way electronic communication system

    Content Vocabulary

    • private bill: deals with individual people or places
    • public bill: deals with general matters affecting the entire nation
    • joint resolution: a resolution passed in the same form by both houses of Congress
    • simple resolution: a statement adopted by one house of Congress (affects only that house)
    • concurrent resolution: a resolution affecting both houses but does not require a law
    • rider: a provision in a bill unrelated to the main subject
    • hearing: a session where a committee listens to testimony
    • veto: rejection of a bill by the president
    • pocket veto: when a president rejects a bill by refusing to act on it

    Types of Bills and Resolutions

    • Thousands of bills are introduced in each congressional session, but few become law
    • Most bills die in Congress or are vetoed
    • Bills not passed by the end of a session must be reintroduced in the next session
    • Bills can take a long time to become law
    • Private bills: concern individual people or places (often involve claims against government or immigration issues)
    • Public bills: concern general matters affecting the entire nation
    • Resolutions: formal decisions by a legislature for uncommon or short-term policy matters
      • Joint resolutions: passed in the same form by both houses; have the force of law when signed by the president
      • Simple resolutions: deal with matters affecting only one house of Congress
      • Concurrent resolutions: deal with matters needing both houses' action but not requiring a law

    Tracking Bills and Resolutions

    • Congress.gov: a website allowing search by bill number or subject; shows the full text of bills, Congressional Record, committee reports, and summaries of bills
    • Congressional Quarterly (CQ): private company providing information on Congress (books, magazines, newsletters)
    • Roll Call: newspaper with news and opinions on Congress (requires a fee)

    Introducing a Bill

    • Bills originate from citizens, interest groups, or the executive branch
    • Only a member of Congress can introduce a bill
    • In the House, a bill is placed in a hopper; in the Senate, a presiding officer formally presents a bill
    • A bill receives a title and number (e.g., S.1, H.R.1)
    • Copies are distributed to lawmakers

    Committee Action

    • Bills are referred to committees with jurisdiction over the subject matter
    • Committees can reject, amend, rewrite, or adopt a bill without further action
    • Hearings are held to gather information and testimony from experts
    • Hearings can influence public opinion and provide a platform for public input
    • Markup sessions allow committee members to amend the bill

    Markup Session

    • Committee members make changes to the bill
    • Changes require a majority vote
    • The committee either kills or reports the bill
    • Reports provide detailed summaries, major changes, and opinions on the bill

    Floor Action

    • Lawmakers debate a bill on the floor of the House or Senate
    • Amendments are possible in the floor debate
    • Bills require passage in identical form by both houses to proceed
    • Conference committees are formed to resolve differences in identical bills from both houses

    Final Steps in Passing Bills

    • Both houses of Congress must pass the identical bill
    • If the houses have different versions, a conference committee settles differences
    • The final bill is sent to the president
    • The president can sign a bill into law or veto it
      • Congress can override a presidential veto (requires a two-thirds vote in each house)
    • The finalized bill is officially registered as a law

    Why So Few Bills Become Law

    • Creating law is a long process with many opportunities for a bill to be delayed, altered, or rejected
    • Compromise is frequently needed to gather enough support
    • Powerful interest groups can oppose a bill
    • Some members introduce bills for political purposes rather than for passage

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    Related Documents

    US Government: Types of Bills and Resolutions PDF

    Description

    Test your knowledge on various types of bills and resolutions in Congress. This quiz covers important terms and concepts such as private bills, public bills, and different types of resolutions. Enhance your understanding of the legislative process in the United States.

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