Unit 2 - Congress and Leadership
Going Around the Speaker
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FRQ #1 - Concept Application
Going Around the Speaker: the discharge petition, the Rules Committee, and the Senate sixty vote hurdle
Roger the GoPup is ready to sniff out how a bill really moves through Congress
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Scenario
In 2025, Congress debated whether to extend the enhanced premium tax credits that help millions of Americans pay for health insurance bought through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. Because the credits are part of the federal tax code, a bill extending them is a revenue measure. In December 2025, the Senate voted on two competing health care bills, one extending the credits for three years and one letting them expire while sending money to health savings accounts instead. Each bill received 51 votes, short of the 60 votes needed to invoke cloture, so neither advanced, and the credits expired at the end of the year.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson and the majority party leadership declined to bring an extension to the floor, and the Rules Committee did not schedule one for debate. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries then filed a discharge petition. When four Republicans joined all House Democrats in signing it, the petition reached the 218 signatures needed to force a floor vote. In January 2026, the House passed a three year extension by a vote of 230 to 196, with 17 Republicans voting yes, and sent the bill to the Senate, where a bipartisan group of senators was negotiating a possible compromise.
In the House, Speaker Mike Johnson and the majority party leadership declined to bring an extension to the floor, and the Rules Committee did not schedule one for debate. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries then filed a discharge petition. When four Republicans joined all House Democrats in signing it, the petition reached the 218 signatures needed to force a floor vote. In January 2026, the House passed a three year extension by a vote of 230 to 196, with 17 Republicans voting yes, and sent the bill to the Senate, where a bipartisan group of senators was negotiating a possible compromise.
Based on real events in Congress, December 2025 to January 2026
Your Response
20:00
ADescribe a power the Speaker of the House has over the legislative process, as illustrated in the scenario.
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BIn the context of the scenario, explain how the discharge petition allowed members of the House to affect the legislative process.
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CIn the context of the scenario, explain how Senate rules could affect whether the House passed bill becomes law.
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