Blog

Fees, Fines, and Penalties: Has Congress Lost Control of the Purse?
Fees, Fines, and Penalties: Has Congress Lost Control of the Purse?

kosar-fees-fines-and-penalties-05-04-2021Download

January 2, 2024
Read More...
The Atrophying of the Congressional Research Service’s Role in Supporting Committee Oversight
The Atrophying of the Congressional Research Service’s Role in Supporting Committee Oversight

The Congressional Research Service (CRS) in its current incarnation was established in 1970. Congress designed the nonpartisan agency to provide ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
Bring in the Nerds: Reviving the Office of Technology Assessment
Bring in the Nerds: Reviving the Office of Technology Assessment

In 1994, Congress ceased appropriations for its Office of Technology Asssessment (OTA). The agency's 120 nonpartisan staff were directed to ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
A Case for Stronger Congressional Committees
A Case for Stronger Congressional Committees

Committees are supposed to be the powerhouses of policymaking and oversight. They are the cohorts of legislators who gain expertise, ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
Restoring Congress as the First Branch
Restoring Congress as the First Branch

In this report, six authors comment on various aspects of Congress and offer proposals to improve the House and Senate. ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
Are Earmarks Good or Bad? (with Zach Courser)

The topic of today’s episode is, “Are earmarks good or bad?” My guest is Zachary Courser, a visiting assistant professor of government ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
How Can I Find a Bill or Law?
How Can I Find a Bill or Law?

Congress.gov is the go-to source for official information on the legislative process. There you can find bills in the current ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
Why Congress
Why Congress

This book is a bold defense of our nation's legislature and its ability to work through the country's deepest divisions, ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
Three Steps for Reasserting Congress in Regulatory Policy
Three Steps for Reasserting Congress in Regulatory Policy

Each year, federal agencies produce more regulations. These regulations affect nearly every aspect of our lives, yet are never voted ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
How Can I Find Which Spending Bills Have Passed Congress?
How Can I Find Which Spending Bills Have Passed Congress?

The Congressional Reseach Service tracks the status of appropriations legislation and provides links to the bills and accompanying reports at ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
Restoring the Power of the Purse: Earmarks and Re-Empowering Legislators to Deliver Local Benefits
Restoring the Power of the Purse: Earmarks and Re-Empowering Legislators to Deliver Local Benefits

In recent years, various senators and representatives have discussed lifting Congress’ earmark moratorium. The practice of earmarking—or allowing legislators to ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
How Can Congress’ Power Over of Foreign Be Strengthened?
How Can Congress’ Power Over of Foreign Be Strengthened?

Often it is assumed that the president should direct foreign affairs. he is the "commander-in-chief" and has the authority to ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
A Primer Course on Legislative Procedure
A Primer Course on Legislative Procedure

The Congressional Research Service created a video series on legislative procedure in Congress. It is an easy-to-follow and authoritative explainer ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
How Unorthodox Lawmaking Was Used to Raise the Debt Limit
How Unorthodox Lawmaking Was Used to Raise the Debt Limit

Source: Congress.gov. Democrats held the presidency and Senate, Republicans had a narrow Hosue majority. The nation's debt limit needed raised lest ...

January 2, 2024
Read More...
Why Reforming Senate Holds Can Benefit the Democratic Process
Why Reforming Senate Holds Can Benefit the Democratic Process

Source: Senate.gov. "While the Senate is often bound in arcane procedural knots, Senate holds are relatively straightforward. The Senate often does ...

January 1, 2024
Read More...
How a Bill Becomes a Law in the 21st Century
How a Bill Becomes a Law in the 21st Century

Source: YouTube.com Rep. Jeff Jackson (D-NC) has a short and illuminating post on how he got a law enacted to create parental leave ...

January 1, 2024
Read More...
Could the Modern Senate Manage an Open-Amendment Process?
Could the Modern Senate Manage an Open-Amendment Process?

Americans who tune into C-SPAN to see the Senate at work may well be surprised by what they do not ...

January 1, 2024
Read More...
What is the Role of a Legislator in Congress?
What is the Role of a Legislator in Congress?

Source: House.gov. I taught a course on Congress to undergraduate students last year. After getting the students to share their concerns and dislikes about ...

January 1, 2024
Read More...
A Brief History of Congressional Staffing
A Brief History of Congressional Staffing

Congress needs staff to carry out the duties prescribed by the Constitution and demanded by the public. In this C-SPAN ...

January 1, 2024
Read More...
When Congress Had Its Own Dormitory
When Congress Had Its Own Dormitory

Source: House.gov "Until about 50 years ago, it was not uncommon for legislators to bunk under the same roof. In the ...

January 1, 2024
Read More...

GET UPDATES In YOUR INBOX

Stay in the know about our news and events.