Which statements regarding multiple referral are true?
Correct Answer(s)
Multiple referral increases the power of the
leadership.
Complex bills that concern many different
issues may be assigned to different standing
committees.
Multiple referral is more common in the U.S.
House than the U.S. Senate.
Incorrect Answer(s)
+
Multiple referral reduces the leaders’ power
and increases committee power.
Multiple referral gives each individual
legislator a veto over legislation and therefore
produces more bipartisan legislation.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct statements regarding multiple referral are as follows:
- Multiple referral increases the power of the leadership: This statement is true because the practice of multiple referral allows leadership to control the flow of legislation by directing a bill to more than one committee. This enables leadership to strategically align legislative outcomes, influence the committee review process, and ensure the bill’s progression.
- Complex bills that concern many different issues may be assigned to different standing committees: This statement is also true. When a bill involves multiple policy areas, it can be referred to multiple committees, each specializing in a particular aspect of the bill. This allows the bill to be examined in-depth by experts in different fields, ensuring that all relevant issues are addressed.
- Multiple referral is more common in the U.S. House than the U.S. Senate: This statement is true as well. The U.S. House of Representatives uses multiple referral more frequently than the Senate, as the House tends to deal with a higher volume of legislation and more specialized committees. The Senate, in contrast, typically uses a more streamlined referral process.
Incorrect Statements:
- Multiple referral reduces the leaders’ power and increases committee power: This is incorrect. In fact, multiple referral increases the power of leadership, as they have more control over which committees receive the bill and can guide its progress through the legislative process. While committees may have more expertise in specific areas, leadership maintains significant influence over the bill’s journey.
- Multiple referral gives each individual legislator a veto over legislation and therefore produces more bipartisan legislation: This statement is also incorrect. Multiple referral does not give individual legislators a veto over legislation; it may make the legislative process more complicated, but it does not inherently lead to bipartisan cooperation. It can, however, create opportunities for negotiations and compromises, but it doesn’t guarantee more bipartisan outcomes.
In summary, multiple referral is a strategy employed to manage complex legislation in the U.S. Congress, increasing leadership power and committee specialization. It is more common in the House and provides a way to address the diverse issues within a single bill. However, it does not reduce the power of leadership or automatically result in bipartisan legislation.