Purchase Solution

Government voting math

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

A bill is sent to the President of the United States when it has passed both houses of Congress. A majority vote in both the House of Representatives (435 members) and the Senate (100 members) is needed for the bill to passed on the President. The majority vote is a majority of the members presents, as long as more than one-half of all the members are present. More than one-half of the members makes up what is called a quorum.
Once the bill comes to him, the President may either sign the bill, making it a law, or he can veto the bill. His veto sends the bill back to Congress.
Congress can still make the bill a law by overriding the Presidential veto. To override the veto 2/3 of the members of each legislative body must vote to override it. Again, this is 2/3 of a quorum of members.

1). Assume that 420 members of the House are available to vote. How many votes are necessary to make up a majority, which is anything over 1/2?

2). If 90 members of the Senate are available to vote, how many votes would constitute a majority?

3). How many votes from a group of 420 members of the House would be necessary to overturn a veto?

4). How many votes from a group of 90 members of the Senate would be necessary to overturn a veto?

Purchase this Solution

Solution Summary

This shows how to determine majority and votes necessary to overturn a veto.

Solution Preview

1). Assume that 420 members of the House are available to vote. How many votes are necessary to make up a majority, which is anything over 1/2?

Response: One half of 420 equals 210. Therefore, to have a ...

Purchase this Solution


Free BrainMass Quizzes
Geometry - Real Life Application Problems

Understanding of how geometry applies to in real-world contexts

Solving quadratic inequalities

This quiz test you on how well you are familiar with solving quadratic inequalities.

Probability Quiz

Some questions on probability

Exponential Expressions

In this quiz, you will have a chance to practice basic terminology of exponential expressions and how to evaluate them.

Multiplying Complex Numbers

This is a short quiz to check your understanding of multiplication of complex numbers in rectangular form.