What groups or U.S.

citizens,organized
individuals might groups, congressional
committees, members of
come up with ideas Congress,the president
for bills?

What can happen to a It can be set aside or—after

bill being considered by hearings—it can be accepted,
rejected, or changed. If
a House committee accepted, it may then be sent
or subcommittee? to the whole House.

Describe the The bill is sent to a

process that a bill goes committee before being
through in Congress? debated and
voted on in the entire
House or Senate
Why do you think a to make sure both
conference committee houses approve the
is needed to merge same law
the House and Senate
bills?
What is the desired to delay the vote on
a bill
effect of a filibuster?

It must first pass

What must happen through committee
in order for a bill to and the
make it the Senate? House.

Why would the House of The Congress members on

Representatives and the the committees might
disagree about the
Senate pass best way to approach the
different versions of a situation or have heard
bill? different evidence.

How might you by writing an e-mail or

influence your senator or letter and organizing
representative to people to support the bill
introduce a bill?
Why do you think members Congress members might
of Congress often agree with the president
introduce bills based on the on the issue or want the
president’s ideas? president’s support on other
issues.

possible law approving

appropriation bill the spending of money

Bill proposed law

when the president does

not
sign a bill within 10 days
pocket veto when Congress is not in
session, preventing it from
becoming
law
 procedure for ending
cloture debate in the
Senate and taking a
vote

when the president

Veto refuses to sign a
bill

Why is it necessary Committees make

for a bill to be sure bills are needed
considered by and effective, as well
a committee? as revise them

So the president can check the power of

Why is it important for Congress in case it
the president to have passes a bill that
final approval over would not benefit the
congressional nation
legislation?
When do regular
sessions of in the first week of
Congress begin? January

Why does the

to make sure
Constitution requires
Congress
Congress
has time to deal with
to meet at least once
important issues.
every year?
What is the difference A regular session occurs for both
houses every year beginning in
between a regular January. A special session
session and a special must be called by the president, is
usually in response to a serious
session of Congress? problem, and may involve one or
both houses.

for each party to

What is the choose its own
purpose of party House and Senate
caucuses? leaders
Who has more the Speaker of
the House because he
power: the or she controls who
Speaker of the speaks and influences
House or party business in the House
whip?
Why does the majority party The majority party has the
have an advantage over the most committee members
minority party under the and chooses each
committee system? committee’s chair, who
controls its work.
president “for
president pro the time being” who
tempore presides over the Senate
when the vice president
is absent

the person who

Speaker of the presides over the
House House of
Representatives