POS4424 Legislative Systems Exam 2
With Complete Solutions
How does a bill become a law? - ANSWER Bill is drafted, member of congress
introduces it, and referred to a committee, hearings/mark-ups- reported out, sent to the
rules committee (house) or UCA for attempt at rules (senate) , debate on the floor, same
version goes to president, differing versions go to conference committee-sent back to
floor-then to president.
Who can draft a bill? - ANSWER anyone
Who can introduce a bill? - ANSWER only a member of Congress in their respective
chambers
What is it called when a MOC agrees to introduce a bill - ANSWER sponsorship
Sponsorship - ANSWER requires a member of Congress in respective chambers to be
people to introduce the bill
Which chamber does a bill go through first? - ANSWER it can go through either first,
second, or simultaneously
How many people can co-sponsor a bill? - ANSWER unlimited amount
What are the incentives to co-sponsor a bill - ANSWER credit claiming
How many bills have been submitted since 1970? become law? - ANSWER 10,000 bills
submitted, 400 become law
What kinds of laws get passed? - ANSWER 80 percent of laws are bipartisan, centrists
introduced the majority of passed bills
Who is responsible for bill referral to the committee? - ANSWER Speaker of the House
holds the power, they typically delegate to the clerk
Types of bills - ANSWER public and private
Public bills - ANSWER deal with general questions and become public laws, U.S. codes
private bill - ANSWER A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or
local matters. ex- immigration, land titles, almost always unanimous- less common
How are bills identified in respective chambers - ANSWER H.R. # (House of Rep.)
S. # (Senate)
, Types of Resolutions - ANSWER simple, joint, concurrent
Simple resolution - ANSWER deals with the matters of one chamber, doesn't have force
of law, used to express sentiment
concurrent resolution - ANSWER An expression of opinion without the force of law that
requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president
Committee process - ANSWER Governed primarily by committee chairs
(a) Subcommittee referral
(b) Public hearings
(c) Markup
(d) Report
What reports must be attached to a bill - ANSWER Regulatory Impact Report -
Congressional research service evaluates the implications of the bill being passed on
existing laws and regulations
Budget Report
House Rules Committee - ANSWER Uses a simple resolution to assign rules of debate to
every bill, attempts to lower transaction costs
Amendment Rules in HR - ANSWER Open rule (amendments allowed) empowers the
floor
Closed rule (no amendments) affirm committee power
Rules in the Senate - ANSWER no official rules committee, majority and minority leaders
work together to draft a UCA
Unanimous Consent Agreement (UCA) - ANSWER a formal understanding on
procedures for conducting debate- time allocations and such, requires acceptance by
every member of the chamber
if the UCA is objected by one or more members of the Senate.. - ANSWER it allows for
filibustering
joint resolution - ANSWER A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be
approved by both houses of congress and by the president and has the force of law;
constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
Joint resolutions are typically... - ANSWER Congressional expenditures, also can be
constitutional amendments
Who has the referral power in the Senate? - ANSWER Senate majority leader- Speaker,
however they also typically delegate this responsibility to the clerk
With Complete Solutions
How does a bill become a law? - ANSWER Bill is drafted, member of congress
introduces it, and referred to a committee, hearings/mark-ups- reported out, sent to the
rules committee (house) or UCA for attempt at rules (senate) , debate on the floor, same
version goes to president, differing versions go to conference committee-sent back to
floor-then to president.
Who can draft a bill? - ANSWER anyone
Who can introduce a bill? - ANSWER only a member of Congress in their respective
chambers
What is it called when a MOC agrees to introduce a bill - ANSWER sponsorship
Sponsorship - ANSWER requires a member of Congress in respective chambers to be
people to introduce the bill
Which chamber does a bill go through first? - ANSWER it can go through either first,
second, or simultaneously
How many people can co-sponsor a bill? - ANSWER unlimited amount
What are the incentives to co-sponsor a bill - ANSWER credit claiming
How many bills have been submitted since 1970? become law? - ANSWER 10,000 bills
submitted, 400 become law
What kinds of laws get passed? - ANSWER 80 percent of laws are bipartisan, centrists
introduced the majority of passed bills
Who is responsible for bill referral to the committee? - ANSWER Speaker of the House
holds the power, they typically delegate to the clerk
Types of bills - ANSWER public and private
Public bills - ANSWER deal with general questions and become public laws, U.S. codes
private bill - ANSWER A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or
local matters. ex- immigration, land titles, almost always unanimous- less common
How are bills identified in respective chambers - ANSWER H.R. # (House of Rep.)
S. # (Senate)
, Types of Resolutions - ANSWER simple, joint, concurrent
Simple resolution - ANSWER deals with the matters of one chamber, doesn't have force
of law, used to express sentiment
concurrent resolution - ANSWER An expression of opinion without the force of law that
requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president
Committee process - ANSWER Governed primarily by committee chairs
(a) Subcommittee referral
(b) Public hearings
(c) Markup
(d) Report
What reports must be attached to a bill - ANSWER Regulatory Impact Report -
Congressional research service evaluates the implications of the bill being passed on
existing laws and regulations
Budget Report
House Rules Committee - ANSWER Uses a simple resolution to assign rules of debate to
every bill, attempts to lower transaction costs
Amendment Rules in HR - ANSWER Open rule (amendments allowed) empowers the
floor
Closed rule (no amendments) affirm committee power
Rules in the Senate - ANSWER no official rules committee, majority and minority leaders
work together to draft a UCA
Unanimous Consent Agreement (UCA) - ANSWER a formal understanding on
procedures for conducting debate- time allocations and such, requires acceptance by
every member of the chamber
if the UCA is objected by one or more members of the Senate.. - ANSWER it allows for
filibustering
joint resolution - ANSWER A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be
approved by both houses of congress and by the president and has the force of law;
constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
Joint resolutions are typically... - ANSWER Congressional expenditures, also can be
constitutional amendments
Who has the referral power in the Senate? - ANSWER Senate majority leader- Speaker,
however they also typically delegate this responsibility to the clerk
