Outline the main steps a bill takes to become a law, noting the differences between the House and Senate. Why it is so much easier for a bill to be killed than passed?
Answer:
An ideal response will:
1. Outline the major themes of the lawmaking process: bill introduction, subcommittee hearing and markup, full committee, Rules Committee (House only), unanimous consent (Senate), full House or full Senate debate, Conference Committee and bill reconciliation, presidential approval or disapproval.
2. List the options for the president: approval with signature, no signature and bill becomes law after 10 days if Congress is in session, no signature and bill repeats the whole process if Congress is out of session (pocket veto), or veto. A two-thirds majority vote in both the House and Senate is required to override a veto.
3. Note that at any given step, the bill may be held or killed off. Riders may be attached to obtain or thwart bill passage.
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Which of the following statements is true of lobbyists?
a. They have limited knowledge on public policy. b. They are expertsin the process of passing legislation. c. They conceal overlooked national problems. d. They represent big businesses exclusively. e. They provide solutions to most of the country's political problems.