A Bill Becomes a Law
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Unit 11
 
Legislative Lingo
 
Strategies and Power Plays
 
Stats, Quirks, and Examples
 
The Legislative Junkie

Strategies and Power Plays

Unit 11

 

VOTING WITHOUT GUILT: Roll call and electronically cast votes force members to take a public stand on an issue. On controversial issues, members sometimes prefer a voice vote where their individual position cannot be identified.

TO VOTE OR NOT TO VOTE: For some members, voting "present" allows them to escape being recorded as absent but allows them to avoid taking a stand on an issue.

WHEN NO VOTE IS A VOTE: Members who must be absent, or who don't want to take a public stand, have the option of "pairing" with another member who would have voted the other way, thus canceling each other's vote out.

 

Unit Introduction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Copyright © 2005 The Dirksen Congressional Center

Home Unit 1: Introduction Unit 2: From Problems to Solutions Unit 3: Origin of Bills Unit 4: Bill Drafting and Floor Introduction Unit 5: Referral to Committee Unit 6: Subcommittee Review Unit 7: Mark-up and Subcommittee Voting Unit 8: Committee Action Unit 9: Scheduling Floor Consideration Unit 10: Floor Debate Unit 11: Floor Votes Unit 12: Ironing Out Differences Unit 13: Presidential Action and Congressional Reaction Unit 14: The Legislative Processes