Question #N439

The process by which a bill becomes law is long and complex, involving many steps: first, a bill is introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate; second, the bill is referred to a committee; third, the bill is debated and amended on the floor of the House or Senate; fourth, the bill is voted on by the House or Senate; fifth, if the bill is approved by both the House and Senate, it is sent to the president; sixth, the president can either sign the bill into law or veto it; and seventh, if the president vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto by a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

Which choice best combines the sentences at the underlined portion to create a grammatically correct and clear sentence?
A. The bill is sent to the president, the president can either sign the bill into law or veto it.
B. The bill is sent to the president; the president can either sign the bill into law or veto it.
C. The bill is sent to the president, and the president can either sign the bill into law or veto it.
D. The bill is sent to the president, so the president can either sign the bill into law or veto it.

Correct Answer is: A

Choice A is the best option because it combines the two sentences using a comma and a coordinating conjunction. This creates a grammatically correct and clear sentence. The other choices are incorrect because they use punctuation that is not appropriate for combining these two sentences. Choice B uses a semicolon, but a semicolon can only be used to combine two independent clauses. Choice C uses a comma, but a comma cannot be used to combine two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. Choice D uses a comma and a coordinating conjunction, but the conjunction “so” is not appropriate for this context, because the second clause does not explain a result of the first clause.