State Government and Citizenship — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. A proposed law that has not yet been approved is called a bill.
Before a law is officially passed, it starts out as a bill. A bill must be debated and voted on by the legislature, then signed by the governor to become law.
2. A bill must be passed by both the state senate and the house of representatives.
Most state legislatures have two chambers: the senate and the house of representatives. A bill must pass both chambers before it can go to the governor.
3. Lawmakers discuss and debate a bill before voting on it.
Debate lets lawmakers share different viewpoints and ask questions about a bill. This discussion helps them make an informed decision before casting their vote.
4. After both chambers approve a bill, it goes to the governor for a signature.
Once both the senate and house pass a bill, the governor reviews it. The governor can sign it into law or veto it to block it from becoming law.
5. If the governor rejects a bill, the legislature may try to override the veto.
Overriding a veto means the legislature votes again and passes the bill despite the governor's rejection. This usually requires a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
6. A legislative committee studies a bill in detail before the full chamber votes.
A legislative committee is a small group of lawmakers who specialize in a topic. They study a bill closely and recommend whether the full chamber should pass it.
7. Citizens can attend public hearings to speak for or against a bill.
Public hearings give everyday citizens a chance to speak directly to lawmakers about a bill. This is one important way people participate in the lawmaking process.
8. When the governor signs a bill, it officially becomes a law.
A bill only becomes an official law after the governor signs it. At that point, all citizens in the state must follow the new law.
9. Changes made to a bill before it is passed are called amendments.
Amendments are changes or additions that lawmakers make to a bill during the debate process. They allow the bill to be improved before the final vote.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Bill
→ A proposed law that has not yet passed
A change added to a proposed law
Veto
→ The governor's power to reject a bill
A small group that studies a bill closely
Committee
→ A small group that studies a bill closely
A proposed law that has not yet passed
Amendment
→ A change added to a proposed law
The governor's power to reject a bill
Correct matches: Bill → A proposed law that has not yet passed; Veto → The governor's power to reject a bill; Committee → A small group that studies a bill closely; Amendment → A change added to a proposed law.