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General Information Questions

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1) What is a bill?

Who may introduce one in Congress?

  • A bill is a proposed law.

  • Any member of the House or Senate, to their respective chamber.
  • In this respect, Congress is a “members only club.”

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2) Why does Congress do most of its work in committees?

  • There are too many bills (9000+/year), too many people (535), & too little time (150-ish days/year).

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  • This “division of labor” allows Congress to handle its massive workload (and still take tons of breaks!!!).

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3) What happens to the vast majority of the bills proposed each year?

  • They die in Standing Committees...

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  • a.k.a., they get “PIGEONHOLED.”
    • which means they get stuck in a committee and never get out.

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4) Approximately what % of bills proposed in Congress each year actually become laws?

  • about 7%

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STUDY GUIDE #3 TIME