Government Test Chapter 11

What are the stages a bill goes through to become a law?

1. Members of Congress determines need for a new law 2. House legislative assistant drafts the bill 3. Bill is introduced and turned over to a committee 4. Lobbyists urge representative to vote for (or against) bill 5. House committee holds hearings for study and testimony 6. Bill is debated and passed by full House 7. Citizens urge senators to support (or oppose) House bill 8. Senate committee holds hearings and revises the bill 9. Senate passes revised bill 10. Differences ironed out by Senate-House conference committee 11. Compromise bill passed by Congress 12. President signs bill into law

How does the president affect the enactment of laws?

He can sign the bill, making it law, veto the bill and kill it, ignore it, or if Congress is not in session during the ten days, and the president does not sign the bill then it dies.

What are the four types of congressional committees, and what function does each serve?

The four types of committees in Congress are standing, select, joint, and conference. Standing committees are permanent committees that are generally more powerful than other types of committees. Select committees are those created for a specific purpose, generally to investigate a particular problem, and are therefore temporary. Joint committees are permanent committees composed of members from both the House and Senate; they generally serve as an advisory board to other congressional committees, particularly on tax matters, but posses little real power beyond their recommendations. Conference committees are ad hoc (temporary) committees drawn from both chambers that meet to work out a compromise agreement on a bill, or proposed law, that has emerged from both houses in different forms.

What is the primary function of Congress?

The primary function was to create the laws that will affect the daily lives of Americans.

Why are committee chairmanships important?

They have the power to kill a bill, write legislation, control a committee staff budget of over a million dollars, and listen to lobbyists and people from the executive branch who want to influence legislation.