What does the Constitution require for a bill to become law?

To understand the process by which a bill becomes law according to the Constitution, it's essential to consider the roles of both chambers of Congress and the president. The correct answer is that a bill requires a simple majority in both chambers of Congress—the House of Representatives and the Senate—to pass.

Here's how the process works: After a bill is introduced, it must go through various stages, including committee review and debate, in both the House and the Senate. Once it is voted on in each chamber, it must receive more votes in favor than against, which constitutes a simple majority. In the House, this usually means at least 218 out of 435 votes, assuming all members are present. In the Senate, a simple majority would typically be 51 out of 100 votes, if there is no tie.

Once both chambers have approved the bill, it is then sent to the president, who may sign it into law, allow it to become law without a signature (if not acted upon within ten days while Congress is in session), or veto it. A presidential veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority in both chambers, but that is not part of the original requirement for the bill to initially pass.

This context highlights why a simple majority