How a bill really becomes a law
Grade 12 Social Studies Worksheet
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
Article I, Section 7 (quoted in part)
"Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States; If he approve he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his Objections to that House in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the Objections at large on their Journal, and proceed to reconsider it. If after such Reconsideration two thirds of that House shall agree to pass the Bill, it shall be sent, together with the Objections, to the other House, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two thirds of that House, it shall become a Law. …" Case T1 (made-up): A vetoed bill started in the House. The Senate votes first, 70 of 100, to override.
Esme reads Article I and case T1. The Senate votes first to override a House-origin bill. Is that the right first step?
- Yes, since the Senate's rules govern the order of each override
- No; a vetoed bill goes to the Supreme Court first to check the objections
- No; the bill returns first to the House, where it originated
- Yes; either house may go first, since each needs two thirds anyway
Article I, Section 7 (quoted in part)
"If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law." Case T4 (made-up): A bill is presented to the President on Monday, June 1. Congress stays in session and the President does not sign or return it.
Kira reads Article I and case T4. Presented Monday, June 1, a bill is not signed or returned. By which day does it become law?
- June 11, counting ten calendar days with Sundays included
- June 12, since Sundays are not counted in the ten days
- It does not become law without a signature, since the President did not act
- June 15, counting ten working days and skipping Saturdays and Sundays
Article I, Section 7 (quoted in part)
"If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law." Case T5 (made-up): A student says: "If the President says nothing for ten days, the bill fails, whether Congress is in session or not."
Milo reads Article I and note T5. Congress is in session throughout. Is the student right?
- No; it becomes law solely when the next session of Congress begins
- Yes; a bill needs the President's signature to become law
- No; with Congress in session it becomes law without a signature
- Yes; silence is a veto unless Congress overrides it by two thirds
Article I, Section 7 (quoted in part)
"If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law." Case T6 (made-up): A bill is presented to the President. On day four Congress adjourns for a long recess, and the adjournment prevents the President from returning the bill. The President has not signed the bill.
Noah reads Article I and case T6. Congress adjourns on day four. What is the result?
- It becomes law at day ten, whether or not Congress is in session
- A pocket veto needs the Senate's consent before a pocket veto counts
- The adjournment prevents the return, so it does not become law
- It returns when the recess ends and then becomes law without a vote
House rules (our words)
The Rules Committee sets the terms for debating most bills on the House floor, such as how long members may debate and whether amendments are allowed. A discharge petition signed by a majority of the House, 218 of 435 members, can bring a bill to the floor when a committee will not release it.
Pia reads card HR. Why is the Rules Committee powerful?
- It decides whether a bill becomes law, since no bill passes without its approval
- It sets the terms of floor debate, which can shape what members vote on
- It breaks ties between the House and the Senate when their versions differ
- It writes the text of each bill before any committee has studied the bill
Tala reads card HR. A committee holds a popular bill. How many signatures does a discharge petition need, and what does it do?
- 290, two thirds of 435; it passes the bill without any other vote
- 218; it passes the bill without any vote on the House floor
- 145, one third of 435; it sends the bill to the Senate for a vote
- 218, a majority of 435; it can bring the bill to the floor
House rules (our words)
The Rules Committee sets the terms for debating most bills on the House floor, such as how long members may debate and whether amendments are allowed. A discharge petition signed by a majority of the House, 218 of 435 members, can bring a bill to the floor when a committee will not release it. Student note (made-up): "A discharge petition means the committee chair no longer matters."
Zee reads card HR and note T9. How should the note be judged?
- Wrong; the chair has final control over each bill, whatever members sign
- Right; the petition passes the bill, so the chair has no role in anything
- Wrong; a petition needs 290 signatures, two thirds of the House
- Partly; 218 members can bypass a chair, but the bill still needs floor action
Senate rule (our words)
Debate in the Senate can continue until three fifths of all senators, 60 of 100, vote for cloture to end it. Before 1975, cloture needed two thirds of the senators present and voting. After cloture ends debate, a bill still needs a simple majority to pass. Case T10 (made-up): A cloture vote gets 58 yes votes and 42 no votes. All 100 senators vote.
Ari reads card SR and case T10. A cloture vote gets 58 yes and 42 no. What happens?
- Debate continues; cloture needs 60 of the 100 senators
- Debate ends, since 58 is a majority of the Senate
- Debate continues, since cloture needs 67, two thirds of the Senate
- Debate ends if the Senate leaders agree, whatever the vote total
Senate rule (our words)
Debate in the Senate can continue until three fifths of all senators, 60 of 100, vote for cloture to end it. Before 1975, cloture needed two thirds of the senators present and voting. After cloture ends debate, a bill still needs a simple majority to pass. Case T11 (made-up): In 1974, a cloture vote gets 62 yes votes and 38 no votes. All 100 senators vote.
Bo reads card SR and case T11. In 1974 a cloture vote gets 62 yes and 38 no. How does the result differ under the old and the current rule?
- It fails under both rules, since cloture invariably needs more than 62 votes to end a debate
- It succeeds under the 1974 rule and would fail under today's rule, which asks for more
- It succeeds under both rules, since 62 is more than half of the senators who voted
- It fails under the 1974 rule (67 needed) but would succeed under today's rule (60 needed)
Senate rule (our words)
Debate in the Senate can continue until three fifths of all senators, 60 of 100, vote for cloture to end it. Before 1975, cloture needed two thirds of the senators present and voting. After cloture ends debate, a bill still needs a simple majority to pass. Case T12 (made-up): A cloture vote gets 61 yes votes. All 100 senators vote.
Esme reads card SR and case T12. A cloture vote gets 61 yes. Does the bill pass?
- Not yet; cloture ends debate, and passage still needs a majority
- No, since passage after cloture needs 67 votes, two thirds of the Senate
- Yes, since a successful cloture vote means the bill is passed
- Yes, since 61 is more than the 60 votes required to pass a bill