Civics Polity

Legislature and Parliament

1,499 Questions

Legislature and Parliament topics cover the structure, functions, and legislative procedures of the lawmaking bodies. This collection focuses on the passage of bills, parliamentary committees, and the roles of different houses. These questions are highly relevant for civil services and state public service commission examinations.

Money billsParliamentary committeesLegislative proceduresRajya Sabha rulesState legislaturesImpeachment process

Legislature and Parliament Questions

Multiple choice

What is the process by which a bill becomes a law?

  1. Introduction, Committee Consideration, Floor Debate, Vote, Presidential Approval

  2. Committee Consideration, Floor Debate, Vote, Presidential Approval, Introduction

  3. Floor Debate, Committee Consideration, Vote, Presidential Approval, Introduction
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A bill becomes a law through the process of introduction, committee consideration, floor debate, vote, and presidential approval.

Multiple choice

What is a veto?

  1. A refusal to sign legislation

  2. A refusal to approve a presidential appointment

  3. A refusal to declare war

  4. A refusal to enter into a treaty
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A veto is a refusal by the President to sign legislation passed by Congress. This prevents the legislation from becoming law.

Multiple choice

What is the effect of a regular veto?

  1. The legislation is sent back to Congress for reconsideration

  2. The legislation is killed and cannot become law

  3. The legislation is automatically enacted into law

  4. The legislation is referred to the Supreme Court for review
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

If the President vetoes a bill, it is sent back to Congress for reconsideration. Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

Multiple choice

What is the effect of a pocket veto?

  1. The legislation is sent back to Congress for reconsideration

  2. The legislation is killed and cannot become law

  3. The legislation is automatically enacted into law

  4. The legislation is referred to the Supreme Court for review
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If the President pocket vetoes a bill, it is killed and cannot become law. Congress cannot override a pocket veto.

Multiple choice

What is the effect of a line-item veto?

  1. The specific provisions of the bill that are vetoed are sent back to Congress for reconsideration

  2. The specific provisions of the bill that are vetoed are killed and cannot become law

  3. The specific provisions of the bill that are vetoed are automatically enacted into law

  4. The specific provisions of the bill that are vetoed are referred to the Supreme Court for review
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

If the President line-item vetoes specific provisions of a bill, those provisions are killed and cannot become law. Congress cannot override a line-item veto.

Multiple choice

How can Congress override a veto?

  1. With a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate

  2. With a simple majority vote in both the House and the Senate

  3. With a two-thirds vote in the House and a simple majority vote in the Senate

  4. With a simple majority vote in the House and a two-thirds vote in the Senate
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Congress can override a veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

Multiple choice

How often does Congress override a veto?

  1. Very often

  2. Sometimes

  3. Rarely

  4. Never
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Congress rarely overrides a veto. Since 1945, Congress has overridden only 11% of presidential vetoes.

Multiple choice

What are some of the arguments in favor of the veto power?

  1. It ensures that legislation is carefully considered by the President

  2. It prevents Congress from passing legislation that is harmful to the country

  3. It promotes compromise between the President and Congress

  4. All of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The veto power has been defended on the grounds that it ensures that legislation is carefully considered by the President, that it prevents Congress from passing legislation that is harmful to the country, and that it promotes compromise between the President and Congress.

Multiple choice

What is the process by which a bill becomes a law?

  1. Introduction, committee consideration, floor debate, vote, and presidential approval

  2. Introduction, committee consideration, floor debate, vote, and judicial review

  3. Introduction, committee consideration, floor debate, vote, and gubernatorial approval

  4. Introduction, committee consideration, floor debate, vote, and executive order
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A bill becomes a law through the process of introduction, committee consideration, floor debate, vote, and presidential approval.

Multiple choice

What is the process by which the legislative branch declares war?

  1. By a majority vote of both houses of Congress

  2. By a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress

  3. By a majority vote of one house of Congress

  4. By a two-thirds vote of one house of Congress
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The legislative branch declares war by a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress.

Multiple choice

What is the process by which the legislative branch impeaches a president?

  1. By a majority vote of both houses of Congress

  2. By a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress

  3. By a majority vote of one house of Congress

  4. By a two-thirds vote of one house of Congress
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
Correct answer
Explanation

The legislative branch impeaches a president by a majority vote of the House of Representatives and a two-thirds vote of the Senate.

Multiple choice

What is the upper house of the legislative branch called?

  1. House of Representatives

  2. Senate

  3. Supreme Court

  4. Cabinet
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The upper house of the legislative branch is called the Senate.

Multiple choice

What is the process by which a bill becomes a law called?

  1. Legislation

  2. Enactment

  3. Ratification

  4. Amendment
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The process by which a bill becomes a law is called enactment.

Multiple choice

How many roll call votes are typically taken in a session of Congress?

  1. Hundreds

  2. Thousands

  3. Tens of thousands

  4. Hundreds of thousands
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Thousands of roll call votes are typically taken in a session of Congress. In the 116th Congress (2019-2020), for example, there were over 10,000 roll call votes taken in the House of Representatives and over 6,000 roll call votes taken in the Senate.

Multiple choice

What is the first step in introducing a bill or resolution in Congress?

  1. Submitting it to the President

  2. Debating it in committee

  3. Voting on it in the House or Senate

  4. Drafting the legislation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The first step in introducing legislation is drafting the bill or resolution, which outlines the proposed law or policy.