Chapter 12- Section 3 & 4

How do House leaders schedule debate on a bill?

) A bill is placed into one of five calendars before going to the floor for consideration: 1. The Calendar of the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 2. The House Calendar 3. The Calendar of the Committee of the Whole House 4. The Consent Calendar 5. The Discharge Calendar

What are the first steps in introducing a new bill to the House?

) The clerk of the House numbers each bill, (3) gives it a short title, and (4) enters it into the House Journal and the Congressional Record for the day

What is a bill?

A bill (1) is a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration.

What is a filibuster?

A filibuster is an attempt to "talk a bill to death."

How do the Senate's rules for debate differ from those in the House?

A senator may exercise his or her right of holding the floor as long as necessary, and in essence talk until a measure is dropped

What happens to a bill on the House floor?

They sit as one large committee whereupon they will debate the bill. Severe limits are placed on floor debate due to the House's large size.

What does veto mean?

When the president vetos a bill, he refuses to sign it.

How do most committees do their work?

several subcommittees— divisions of existing committees formed to address specific issues

What must happen when a measure is taken from a calender?

the Rules Committee must approve that step and set a time for its appearance on the floor

How long can senatos speak on the floor?

As a general matter, senators may speak on the floor for as long as they wish

What happens to a bill once it enters a committee?

Most bills die in committee, pigeonholed, or put away, never to be acted upon. If a committee pigeonholes a bill that a majority of the House wishes to consider, it can be brought out of committee via a discharge petition.

What is the final step in passing a bill in the House?

Once a bill has been approved at second reading, it is engrossed, or printed in its final form. It is then read for a third time and a final vote is taken.

What is the committee as a whole?

The Committee of the Whole includes all members of the House.

What actions can the President take after both houses have passed a bill?

The President may sign the bill, and it then becomes law. The President may veto the bill,. The President's veto can be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the members present in each house. If the President does not act upon a bill within 10 days of receiving it, it becomes law.

How is a bill introduced in the Senate?

Bills are introduced by senators, who are formally recognized for that purpose. (2) Proceedings are much less formal in the Senate compared to the House

What is the role of conference committees in the legislative process?

If one of the houses will not accept the other's version of a bill, a conference committee is formed to iron out the differences.

When does a pocket veto occur?

It occurs if Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill and the President does not sign it. The bill then dies.