Chapter 12: Congress in Action-Study Guide: Fall ‘ 2015
1-Which house in Congress can propose a measure dealing with money? (p.334)
The House of Representatives
2-What enables members to force a bill that has been in committee for 30 days
onto the floor for consideration? (p.336)
Discharge petition
3-Why is a discharge petition seldom used? (p.336)
It needs too many signatures which can be difficult to get.
4-Bills are introduced in the Senate by whom? (p.342)
Individual Senators
5-Which committee acts as a third Congress when they produce a compromise bill
that both houses will accept? (p.333)
Conference Committees
6-What is a provision attached to an important bill called? (p.335)
A Rider
7-After a vote takes place and is approved, the bill is then engrossed in
it’s final form. (p.340)
8-Which house in Congress has a legislative process with few limits on debate?
(p.342)
The Senate
9-On the first day of each new term, the House elects a Speaker to
preside. (p.322)
10-How and when bills reach the floor of the House is decided by what committee?
(p.331)
Rules Committee
11-What is the main reason that Congress created committees? (p.329)
To divide the workload
12-Can the House Rules Committee attach amendments to a bill? True or False
(p.331)
13-How can a bill become a law without the President’s signature? (p.346)
The President fails to act on the bill within 10 days of receiving it while
Congress IS in session.
14-Which committees are temporary, and have members who are appointed to meet
for a specific purpose? (p.331-332)
Select Committee
15-What is voted on by either house, but has no force of law? (p.335)
A Resolution
16-A party caucus is a closed meeting of the members of each party in the House.
(p.324)
17-What term means the majority of the full membership of either house? (p.339)
Quorum
18-Which committees’ duties are best described as those of a traffic cop? (p.331)
House Rules Committee
19-If the Vice President is not present/absent, who is the presiding officer of the
Senate? (p.323)
President pro tempore
20- Committee chairpersons are usually chosen on the basis of
seniority. (p.326)
21-In order to prevent a bill passed by Congress from becoming law, the President
may refuse to sign it and attach a veto message. (p.346)
22-What is the main way to end a filibuster? (p.343)
Invoking the Cloture Rule (60/100 senators sign)
23- What is seniority rule? (p.326)
Unwritten rule in both Houses of Congress reserving the top posts/positions in
each chamber (like committee chairmanships), for those who have served in
Congress the longest.
24-What are the pros and cons about seniority rule? (p.326)
Pro- It puts the most experienced person in certain high position (committee
chairperson, etc.)
Con- It discourages younger members and just because you have served in
the Senate the longest, it does not always mean you are the most deserving or
the most qualified for the position.
25- Most measures/bills introduced in the House die at what step? (p.329)
In Committee
26- Bills that originate in either house of Congress may be the idea of a private
citizen. (True or False). (p.334)
27- What is the purpose of a filibuster? (p.343)
To prevent action on a bill.
28- Why does the President give the State of the Union message? (p.322)
It is required by the U.S. Constitution.
29- What is a closed meeting of the members of each party in the House called?
(p.324)
A Party Caucus.
30- What are the President’s 4 choices when given a bill to sign? (p.346)
• 1. Sign the Bill—it becomes law.
• 2. Veto the Bill—it is sent back to the House where it originated with Presidential
objections (veto message)—Congress can then vote and with a two-thirds
majority, override the President’s veto.
• 3. President can let it become law by ignoring it for ten days after receiving it.
• 4. President can use the Pocket Veto—Congress adjourns within ten days of
submitting a bill to the President, and he does not act, the Bill dies.