What word means a proposed law?
Answer
Bill
Explanation
The word that means a proposed law, on the USCIS reading vocabulary list, is Bill. A bill is a draft of a proposed law that is introduced in either chamber of Congress, considered by committees and the full chamber, and (if approved) sent to the other chamber and ultimately to the President. Bills are the primary vehicle for federal legislation.
The path of a typical bill begins when a member of the House or Senate introduces it; the bill is then assigned a number prefixed with H.R. (for House) or S. (for Senate). The bill is referred to one or more committees with jurisdiction, where it may be the subject of hearings, markups, and votes. If the committee reports the bill favorably, it goes to the chamber's floor for debate and a vote.
After passing one chamber the bill is sent to the other chamber, which may pass the bill in identical form, amend it, or take no action. Differences are usually resolved either by one chamber accepting the other's amendments or by a conference committee that produces a single text. Both chambers must pass identical text.
The enrolled bill is then sent to the President, who has ten days (excluding Sundays) to sign it into law, veto it, or do nothing. If the President signs, the bill becomes a public law and is assigned a number such as Pub. L. 118-42. If the President vetoes, Congress can override by a two-thirds vote in each chamber.
Most bills die in committee; only a small fraction of bills introduced in any Congress become law. Bills are different from joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, and simple resolutions, which serve different purposes. On the reading test Bill may appear in a sentence such as "The President signs a bill" or "What is a bill?"
Why this matters for your test
Bill is a frequent reading vocabulary word because it appears in many sentences about how laws are made, what the President does, and the role of Congress. The word also appears in the phrase Bill of Rights, although that Bill is the document, not a piece of pending legislation. Recognizing the word in print and connecting it to the lawmaking process is a foundational reading and civics skill.
Source: USCIS Reading Vocabulary (2025)
