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Final Report of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
Final Report of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress

The House of Representatives established the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (SCMC) on January 4, 2019. It was ...

January 3, 2024
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Does the Executive Branch Control the Power of the Purse?
Does the Executive Branch Control the Power of the Purse?

Although the US Constitution gives Congress the power of the purse, today a number of laws and arrangements have empowered ...

January 2, 2024
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Revitalizing the Congressional Research Service for the 21st Century
Revitalizing the Congressional Research Service for the 21st Century

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January 2, 2024
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The Excessive Complexity of House of Representative Rules on Legislative Procedure
The Excessive Complexity of House of Representative Rules on Legislative Procedure

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January 2, 2024
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A Democratic Norm Endures January 6th: Congress and Deference to States’ Election Certifications
A Democratic Norm Endures January 6th: Congress and Deference to States’ Election Certifications

The U.S. Congress rarely overturns elections to either of its chambers. Legislators tend to followa norm of deference to election ...

January 2, 2024
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Fees, Fines, and Penalties: Has Congress Lost Control of the Purse?
Fees, Fines, and Penalties: Has Congress Lost Control of the Purse?

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January 2, 2024
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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