Most of the bills introduced in the House and the Senate are then

• A. passed by one chamber but not the other
• B. passed by both chambers but vetoed by the President
• C. referred to committee but never sent to the full Congress
• D. killed in the Rules Committee

Answer: (C)

The majority of bills introduced in both the House and the Senate are indeed referred to committees, where they undergo evaluation, discussion, and modification. Many of these bills do not progress beyond the committee stage, either because they do not garner enough support, are deemed unfeasible, or simply do not align with current legislative priorities. This process helps streamline the legislative workflow by focusing attention on bills that have a greater chance of being enacted, while also allowing for a thorough examination of proposals.

This scenario contrasts with the other options where bills may actually progress further in the legislative process, like being passed by one chamber or both, or facing a presidential veto after passing. However, the reality is that a considerable number of bills do not make it past the committee stage, making the statement about them being referred to committee but not sent to the full Congress the most accurate representation of what happens to most introduced bills.