The Legislative Process Flashcards
What are the 7 stages of the legislative process in the USA?
1st Reading Committee stage Timetabling Second reading (3rd reading) Conference committrees Presidential action
What are the three options for the presidential action stage?
1) sign
2) leave on desk
3) veto
3. 5) pocket veto
Where do all money bills including the budget start?
House
What happens at the first reading?
There’s no debate, it’s just a formality form which bills go straight on to the committee stage
What does the Committee stage possess?
Full power of amendment
Where do most bills stop?
Committee stage
Due to the volume of bills, what is the jargon for a bill that ends at the committee stage?
Pigeon holing
In what kind of sesh does the committee stag make amendments?
Mark-up session
When the committee stage sends a bill on to the next stage what is this called?
Reporting out
If a bill is not pigeon holed, what is it sent to within the committee stage?
Permanent, policy specialist standing committee with full power of amendment. hearings are held and witnesses called
In what two ways can hearings be conducted?
Full committee or sub committee
Describe the timetabling stage
A congestive moment
Why is the timetabling stage a congestive moment?
There’s only one chamber but loads of sub committees sending on legislation
How are bills timetabled in the House and Senate?
House: House Rules Committee
Senate: Unanimous consent agreements between majority and minority leaders
What happens at the second reading for further amendments?
Votes are taken on them and a simple majority is needed for them to be passed
What funny word describes a technique that can be used during the second and third readings?
Filibuster
How can filibuster be stopped?
3/5 majority
What is the second reading the first opportunity for?
The whole house/senate to debate it
What is required to pass the bill at the end of the debates during the second reading stage?
Simple majority
What is a recent notable example of filibuster?
April 4th 2017 Jeff Merkley against Neil Gorsuch spoke for 15.5 hours.
In the conference committee, what are members known as?
Conferees
How many bills are introduced a year to congress?
10 000 - 14 000
How many bills are passed into law of the 10 000 to 14 000 introduced each year and what percentage is this?
400-500 3-4%
What is the distinction between supporters and opponents of bills and the success that they thus need?
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
