Mini Quiz

Question 1

Sources of Legislation

Answer 1

Written by staff, legislative council, interest groups, White house

Question 1

Who must introduce legislation?

Answer 1

A member of the chamber

Question 2

Public Bills

Answer 2

Most bills
Affect policy for everyone

Question 3

Private Bills

Answer 3

Helps particular people
Tax relief, immigration, etc.
Much less common

Question 4

Enacting Clause

Answer 4

Every bill must have one
Striking it kills the bill

Question 5

“In Order”

Answer 5

Means the action taken conforms to the rules
Challenging something as out of order means rules are not being followed (can be waived)

Question 6

Who assigns bills and committees?

Answer 6

Speaker (House) or Majority Leader (Senate) assign numbers and committees
Numbered in order of submission
The first is usually special

Question 7

Individual Referral

Answer 7

Just 1 committee

Question 8

Multiple Referral

Answer 8

Can designate a primary committee, secondary committee
Can also set time limits and particular sections

Question 9

Hearings

Answer 9

Can happen before a bill is introduced
Can be held anywhere
Involves questioning of witnesses

Question 10

Markups

Answer 10

Hand in hand with hearings
Committee amends bill
Sends engrossed bill to floor with committee report

Question 11

Engrossment

Answer 11

Prepping a bill for official use
Goes from a bill to an act
Engrossing clerk engrosses
Message sent to Senate that bill was passed

Question 12

House Calendar

Answer 12

Lists motions and actions able to be made

House - less complicated bills no money
Private bills
Corrections - non-controversial changes to earlier bills
Motions to discharge - for discharge petitions
Consensus Calendar - 290 cosponsors and not reported

Question 13

Union Calendar

Answer 13

Where most bills go
Amendments done here
Where rules committee refers bills usually
Authorizing, appropriating, or tax bills

Question 14

House Rules Committee

Answer 14

Most bills have special rules
- length of debate
- amendments in order
- sections open to amendment
- can’t change bills, but can hold them hostage by refusing to pass a special rule for it

Question 15

Germane

Answer 15

Relating to the topic at hand

Question 16

Open Rules

Answer 16

Anyone can introduce any germane amendment

Question 17

Closed Rules

Answer 17

No amendments in order

Question 18

Modified Rules

Answer 18

Some amendments in order, some not

Question 19

Waivers Rules

Answer 19

Waives legitimate points of order against a bill or amendment

Question 20

Creative Rules

Answer 20

Use rules to get what the majority party wants

Question 21

Other Paths to the House Floor

Answer 21

Unanimous consent agreements (RARE)
Discharge petitions
Privileged matters
Suspensions

Question 22

Discharge Petition

Answer 22

No rules, no amendments

Question 23

Privileged Matters

Answer 23

Conference reports, reports from rules, reports from appropriations

Question 24

Suspension of the Rules

Answer 24

Non-controversial matters that can get 2/3 vote

Question 25

Committee of the Whole House (Debate)

Answer 25

Quorum of 100 needed Appointed chair manages debate Time divided equally

Question 26

Rising

Answer 26

After amending is done, "rise" out of the committee of the whole house, back on the floor (Motion for the "Ordering of the previous question") Vote on the work of the committee Motion to recommit Quorum call Vote on final passage

Question 27

Motion to Recommit

Answer 27

Strikes the enacting clause Cab send with/without instructions If fails, move on to quorum call

Question 28

Voice Vote

Answer 28

Taking the yeas and nays All votes start here Non-controversial stuff stops here Chair/speaker decides who won

Question 29

Division/Standing Votes

Answer 29

A member must request after voice vote Members physically rise and be counted (chair/speaker counts) Often skipped

Question 30

Recorded Vote

Answer 30

Member requests after voice vote or division vote by electronic device 15 minutes to vote (Yay, nay, present) Chair/speakers determines when 15 minutes ends

Question 31

Senate Bill Introduction

Answer 31

Same steps as house

Question 32

Senate Floor Debate Rules

Answer 32

Unanimous consent agreements - Simple: time/amendment limits - Complex: Different limits on different sections of the bill Motion to proceed - can be filibustered

Question 33

Senate Floor Debate Rule Workarounds

Answer 33

Placing on a calendar (Rule XIV) - bypass committee referral - done by objecting during reading of the bill Offer as a non-germane amendment

Question 34

Senate Calendars

Answer 34

Executive Treaties and nominations Calendar of business All legislation

Question 35

Reconciling Differences

Answer 35

If bills are same, it goes to president If they are different, the House can: - accept the senate version - insist on own version - request a conference

Question 36

Senate Final Passage

Answer 36

60 votes for invoking cloture (ends debate) Final passage is majority rule (Done by roll call)

Question 37

Who selects conferees?

Answer 37

Speaker (House) (Senate) Majority Leader Leaders involved when they want to Often involves original committee members Motion to instruct conferees

Question 38

President's Action

Answer 38

10 days to act Sign Not sign Veto, send back with message Pocket veto HAS NEVER HAD A LINE ITEM VETO

Question 39

Reasons for Bill Introduction

Answer 39

To claim credit To avoid compromise To have something to do To begin discussion To hold hearings

Question 40

President Informal Agenda Setting Power

Answer 40

SOTU Bully pulpit