Who has the authority to sign bills into law?

Prepare for the Hawkins Citizenship Test with interactive questions and comprehensive explanations. Enhance your understanding of citizenship topics and ensure readiness for the exam.

The authority to sign bills into law rests with the President of the United States. This power is outlined in Article I, Section 7 of the U.S. Constitution, which details the legislative process. When both houses of Congress—namely, the House of Representatives and the Senate—pass a bill, it is then sent to the President. The President has the option to sign the bill into law, which indicates approval, or to veto it, which prevents the bill from becoming law without further action by Congress. If the President does not sign the bill or veto it within ten days while Congress is in session, it automatically becomes law.

In contrast, the Vice President mainly serves as the President of the Senate and does not have the authority to sign legislation into law. Congress, composed of the House and Senate, plays a crucial role in proposing and debating legislation but does not have the power to enact laws without the President's approval. The Chief Justice oversees the Supreme Court and does not engage in the legislative process in terms of signing bills. Thus, the President is the key figure who ultimately has the authority to sign legislation.

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