1. Describe the process by which a bill becomes a law. Why do you think the process is so lengthy and cumbersome? A bill first starts as an idea, which can be started in the House of Representatives or the Senate by members of either house. The bill is then sent to a subcommittee to “mark it up.” Once they discuss and edit it, it is sent to a more general committee to be discussed and revised again. Once the committee thinks it has a chance of being passed, it is put on the Calendar. This is a schedule that lists when the bill will be discussed and debated by the house it started in (Senate or House of Representatives). In the House, the speaker of the house and the majority leader decide whether the bill should pass before the full house
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Since the final bill is edited hundreds of times by hundreds of people, no laws that are obviously unconstitutional can pass.
2. Analyze the congressional roles of representation and service. What activities fall under the category of representation? Which activities fall under the category of service? Which is more important? Why?
The representational duties of senators and congressmen are the tasks that they were elected for. This includes all the legislative activities such as writing and passing bills, debating proposed bills, and all the other tasks referred to in the Constitution.
The other job of members of Congress is to serve their constituents or their voters. This means responding to the needs and wants of the people that elected him or her. Casework problems can range very greatly, but common ones include aid in the naturalization process, dealing with veterans, Social Security pensions, and dealing with lobbyist groups. Since Congress members are meant to represent their constituents, the service aspect is almost more important than the legislative aspect.
3. How have the attacks of September 11 and the continuing war against terrorism affected Congress as an institution? Cite some specific
Since the final bill is edited hundreds of times by hundreds of people, no laws that are obviously unconstitutional can pass.
2. Analyze the congressional roles of representation and service. What activities fall under the category of representation? Which activities fall under the category of service? Which is more important? Why?
The representational duties of senators and congressmen are the tasks that they were elected for. This includes all the legislative activities such as writing and passing bills, debating proposed bills, and all the other tasks referred to in the Constitution.
The other job of members of Congress is to serve their constituents or their voters. This means responding to the needs and wants of the people that elected him or her. Casework problems can range very greatly, but common ones include aid in the naturalization process, dealing with veterans, Social Security pensions, and dealing with lobbyist groups. Since Congress members are meant to represent their constituents, the service aspect is almost more important than the legislative aspect.
3. How have the attacks of September 11 and the continuing war against terrorism affected Congress as an institution? Cite some specific