4/14-25 - POLS - Congress and representatives - House

Who can introduce bills in the U.S. Congress?

Only members of the House or the Senate.

What percentage of bills introduced in the 117th Congress became law?

About 2% (85 out of 9,883).

What are the two main steps in the legislative process?

Authorization (law) and appropriation (money).

Where are bills first introduced in the House?

By dropping them into the bill hopper attached to the side of the Clerk’s desk.

What does the subcommittee do during the markup session?

Adds amendments and modifies the bill.

How does a bill typically move from subcommittee to full committee?

The subcommittee votes and then reports its findings to the full committee.

What is the ‘traffic cop’ of the House’s legislative process?

The Rules Committee.

What are open rules in the House?

Rules allowing any amendment and debate under the 5-minute rule.

What is a quorum in the House?

Just over half the members, or 218 out of 435.

What happens if a bill passes the House with at least 218 votes?

It is sent to the Senate.