<P> Voting within Congress can take many forms, including systems using lights and bells and electronic voting . Both houses use voice voting to decide most matters in which members shout "aye" or "no" and the presiding officer announces the result . The Constitution, however, requires a recorded vote if demanded by one - fifth of the members present . If the voice vote is unclear or if the matter is controversial, a recorded vote usually happens . The Senate uses roll - call voting, in which a clerk calls out the names of all the senators, each senator stating "aye" or "no" when their name is announced . In the Senate, the vice president may cast the tie - breaking vote if present . </P> <P> The House reserves roll - call votes for the most formal matters, as a roll call of all 435 representatives takes quite some time; normally, members vote by using an electronic device . In the case of a tie, the motion in question fails . Most votes in the House are done electronically, allowing members to vote yea or nay or present or open . Members insert a voting ID card and can change their votes during the last five minutes if they choose; in addition, paper ballots are used on some occasions--yea indicated by green and nay by red . One member cannot cast a proxy vote for another . Congressional votes are recorded on an online database . </P> <P> After passage by both houses, a bill is enrolled and sent to the president for approval . The president may sign it making it law or veto it, perhaps returning it to Congress with their objections . A vetoed bill can still become law if each house of Congress votes to override the veto with a two - thirds majority . Finally, the president may do nothing--neither signing nor vetoing the bill--and then the bill becomes law automatically after ten days (not counting Sundays) according to the Constitution . But if Congress is adjourned during this period, presidents may veto legislation passed at the end of a congressional session simply by ignoring it; the maneuver is known as a pocket veto, and cannot be overridden by the adjourned Congress . </P> <P> Senators face reelection every six years, and representatives every two . Reelections encourage candidates to focus their publicity efforts at their home states or districts . Running for reelection can be a grueling process of distant travel and fund - raising which distracts senators and representatives from paying attention to governing, according to some critics although others respond that the process is necessary to keep members of Congress in touch with voters . </P>

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