2.2 (BILLS) Flashcards
What percentage of bills get past in the United States?
10%
Where can bills be introduced?
In either the house or the Senate
After a bill is introduced what happens next?
It goes to the appropriate committee for review.
In committee action, what are the four things that can happen to the bill?
1 killed by majority vote.
#2 accept it, move it on
#3 can change the bill then vote on it
#4 ignore it (dies!)
What is a discharge petition?
When majority of the house (218 members) force a bill out of a committee
What is an ear mark?
Includes porkbarrel spending. When the federal funds are appropriate for local projects only.
What is log rolling?
When members agreed to help them with something in return for their vote on something else.
After the first the initial reading which is in a committee, where does it go after?
The entire house hears any changes made by the committee.
Which house does not have a time limit to debate on a bill?
The Senate
What is a filibuster? (ONLY IN THE SENATE)
When the bill is talked to death; delays of vote! However, they must talk about the bill for three hours, but passed that they can talk about whatever.
What is a cloture?
This limits debate. Requires 60 vote votes from senators. Most laws can’t pass Senate unless they have 60 votes.
What happens during the third reading?
Allows members to hear changes/amendments added during debate afterwards the house/Senate will vote on it once it’s passed, it will then go to the next house and repeat the cycle. If there are any changes, they must go back to the house that it initially went through.
After it passes both houses, where will the bill go next?
To the president
What are the four things a president can do when they are presented a bill?
1 sign the bill into law
#2 veto the bill and send it back to congress
#3 nothing for 10 days- if congress is in session=takes effect WITHOUT the presidents signature.
#4 if Congress is in recess, then after 10 days, the bill is vetoed without the presidents signatures (POCKET VETO)
What is the signing statement?
When presidents write comments on the bill with their own opinion, this can be a form of informal power. Explains or dislikes of the bill.
What can Congress do if they disagree with the president veto of a bill?
Both houses must have a 2/3 majority of vote to override the veto
What are the purposes of committees?
Divide and conquer work, select bills that should receive further consideration by Congress, helps the public learn about important problems in United States.
What is oversight?
This is Congress requiring review over federal agencies. (FBI, CIA, etc.) to see if they’re doing their job.
What are hearings?
Review agencies practices. Committees can ask for reports on their agencies/practices.
What is the speaker of the house and how are they elected? And what do they do?
They are elected by the house members. They oversee institutional procedures, assigned committee, manages legislation, immense control of operations, fundraises for their party, and has communication with the press.
What is the speaker of the house and how are they elected? And what do they do?
They are elected by the house members. They oversee institutional procedures, assigned committee, manages legislation, immense control of operations, fundraises for their party, and has communication with the press.
What is a majority leader in the houses and what do they do?
They are a representative for the primary party in the house, they help the speaker, includes whips – house members that are responsible with telling their members to align with legislation/votes to support their party.
When would the Senate require the vice president?
To break a tie
How was the leader of the Senate elected?
Senior member of Senate
What does the Senate majority do?
Schedule legislation, rally votes, meets with the media. (Same with minority leader)
