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Modernizing oversight to improve government efficiency and accountability
While impeachment hearings and the 2020 election dominate the political headlines, several encouraging bipartisan efforts to reform Washington and improve governance are making progress below the radar. The result could… Read More
My meeting with the King of Jordan, or the inevitability of legislative diplomacy
Pope Francis addresses Congress in 2015. Editor’s note: This speech was given before the Open World Leadership Center’s conference on women in leadership and legislative diplomacy on November 19,… Read More
Video: Symposium on congressional capacity and endless war in Afghanistan & Syria
The Brennan Center’s Elizabeth Gotien, and R Street’s Casey Burgat, Anthony Marcum, and James Wallner discuss Congressional Capacity and the Endless War in Afghanistan & Syria at the Legislative Branch… Read More
Report of the Task Force Project on Congressional Reform
The American Political Science Association, the Brookings Institution, and the R Street Institute convened top scholars of Congress to examine the state of Congress and possible reforms. Download the… Read More
Checks and imbalances: Investment disparity between Congress and the presidency
Three coequal branches of government, each continuously serving as an effective check on the others. That was and is the theory, the ideal, and the goal of the American… Read More
Today: Hearing on Administrative Efficiencies: Exploring Options to Streamline Operations in the U.S. House of Representatives
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress will hold a hearing titled “Administrative Efficiencies: Exploring Options to Streamline Operations in the U.S. House of Representatives” on Friday, November 15,… Read More
Senate Budget Committee reports budget reform legislation
S. 2765, Bipartisan Congressional Budget Reform Act Bill text is at: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/2765/text Cosponsors: Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC),… Read More
House may vote to extend Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress today
The House of Representatives may vote today to extend the duration of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress (SCMC). The vehicle for the extension appears to be a… Read More
Four questions about the public impeachment hearings
On Wednesday, the House’s impeachment inquiry will go public when it holds its first hearing on the Ukrainian scandal that will be open to the public. The House Permanent Select… Read More
Losing staff can make you a less effective lawmaker
The modern Congress is, in many ways, held together by a cadre of talented, but under-resourced, professionals. As the lawmaking environment continues to grow more complex, congressional offices… Read More