The Legislative Process

Question 1

What are the 7 stages of the legislative process in the USA?

Answer 1

1st Reading 
Committee stage 
Timetabling 
Second reading 
(3rd reading) 
Conference committrees 
Presidential action

Question 2

What are the three options for the presidential action stage?

Answer 2

1) sign
2) leave on desk
3) veto
3. 5) pocket veto

Question 3

Where do all money bills including the budget start?

Answer 3

House

Question 4

What happens at the first reading?

Answer 4

There’s no debate, it’s just a formality form which bills go straight on to the committee stage

Question 5

What does the Committee stage possess?

Answer 5

Full power of amendment

Question 6

Where do most bills stop?

Answer 6

Committee stage

Question 7

Due to the volume of bills, what is the jargon for a bill that ends at the committee stage?

Answer 7

Pigeon holing

Question 8

In what kind of sesh does the committee stag make amendments?

Answer 8

Mark-up session

Question 9

When the committee stage sends a bill on to the next stage what is this called?

Answer 9

Reporting out

Question 10

If a bill is not pigeon holed, what is it sent to within the committee stage?

Answer 10

Permanent, policy specialist standing committee with full power of amendment. hearings are held and witnesses called

Question 11

In what two ways can hearings be conducted?

Answer 11

Full committee or sub committee

Question 12

Describe the timetabling stage

Answer 12

A congestive moment

Question 13

Why is the timetabling stage a congestive moment?

Answer 13

There’s only one chamber but loads of sub committees sending on legislation

Question 14

How are bills timetabled in the House and Senate?

Answer 14

House: House Rules Committee
Senate: Unanimous consent agreements between majority and minority leaders

Question 15

What happens at the second reading for further amendments?

Answer 15

Votes are taken on them and a simple majority is needed for them to be passed

Question 16

What funny word describes a technique that can be used during the second and third readings?

Answer 16

Filibuster

Question 17

How can filibuster be stopped?

Answer 17

3/5 majority

Question 18

What is the second reading the first opportunity for?

Answer 18

The whole house/senate to debate it

Question 19

What is required to pass the bill at the end of the debates during the second reading stage?

Answer 19

Simple majority

Question 20

What is a recent notable example of filibuster?

Answer 20

April 4th 2017 Jeff Merkley against Neil Gorsuch spoke for 15.5 hours.

Question 21

In the conference committee, what are members known as?

Answer 21

Conferees

Question 22

How many bills are introduced a year to congress?

Answer 22

10 000 - 14 000

Question 23

How many bills are passed into law of the 10 000 to 14 000 introduced each year and what percentage is this?

Answer 23

400-500 3-4%

Question 24

What is the distinction between supporters and opponents of bills and the success that they thus need?

Answer 24

Supporters of the bill must win at every state to win a bill, but opponents need only win at one stage to defeat the bill