the legislative process in the US 2.2 Flashcards
what are the 4 stages which a bill must go through for it to become legislation
- initiate
- debate and amend
- scheduling for main chamber
- decide
go into detail about the ‘initiation’ aspect of the legislation process in the US
Bills are initiated by:
- president
- party leaders in Congress
- committees (especially committee chairs)
- individual members of Congress.
WHO VOTES:
- president or congressperson
go into detail about the ‘debate and amend’ aspect of the legislation process in the US
- bill passes through each chamber at he same time
- main role of each committee is to examine and
mend a bill - An unfavourable review by a committee can lead to the bill failing.
WHO VOTES:
- House committees
- Senate committees
go into detail about the ‘scheduling for main chamber’ aspect of the legislation process in the US
decision taken on whether to proceed to the full chamber and the rules of the debate (such as timing
and the possibility of having further amendments.)
WHO VOTES:
- house rules committees
- senate floor
go into detail about the ‘decide’ aspect of the legislation process in the US
- A bill must receive 50%+ vote in each chamber
- have to agree to the exact same version of a bill for it to pass.
- A disputed bill may go to a conference committee.
- Both chambers have to agree to the compromise bill agreed in the conference committee.
WHO VOTES:
- full house
- full senate
explain the presidential veto
- president has to sign a bill for it to become law.
- president can veto a bill.
- Congress overturns veto by 2/3 vote in each chamber.
what are the three strengths of the legislative process
- CHECKS AND BALANCES = prevent tyranny, forcing compromise between different interests (pluralist democracy)
- QUALITY POLICY
- STATE RIGHTS are protected through filibusters
what are the three weaknesses of the legislative process
- Inefficiency/low output
- partisanship and gridlock
- Poor-quality legislation can come from too much compromise.
