The hottest Congress Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top U.S. Politics Topics

Hello, World. Again.

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 22 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The presidency often faces issues tied to the individual in power, while Congress suffers more from institutional problems. People blame the president for failures but see Congress as a whole when it doesn't function well.
  2. A push for stronger congressional powers could weaken the institution, as seen in past reforms that have focused on streamlining power. It's important to invest in congressional capacity instead of seeking shortcuts.
  3. With a weak president like Trump, there might be a chance for Congress to take on a more active role. However, the effectiveness of this shift remains uncertain and could change with future administrations.

FIVE POINTS: A Recess is Not a Vacation

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 11 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Polls might not reflect true public sentiment. Many survey responses depend on how questions are asked and the current political context, which can lead to misleading conclusions.
  2. Members of Congress often work just as hard back in their districts as they do in Washington. They use this time to explain their votes and engage with voters, which can be very demanding.
  3. Congress is struggling with staffing and resources. Many staff members feel overwhelmed, which impacts Congress's ability to effectively do its job and maintain a check on the presidency.

Summer Break Finally Hits Capitol Hill

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 04 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Congress is going into a break after some tough political battles. Some GOP members may face less backlash for not passing health care reforms because they didn't take away people's coverage.
  2. There's a big list of things Congress needs to deal with when they return, like the budget and tax reforms. They'll need to negotiate with each other to get things done since they rely on both parties for support.
  3. People were misled about the Senate's agreement to block Trump from making recess appointments. It seemed like a big deal, but routine procedures were likely just used to simplify the process, showing how complicated Senate rules can be.

So, I'm starting a newsletter

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 03 Aug 17
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. A new newsletter will focus on politics, offering insights free from employment-related writing restrictions. It's a move towards a more flexible style of sharing political analysis.
  2. The content will be non-partisan, primarily looking at political science and current events. It may also include a mix of other fun topics.
  3. The newsletter will be short and easy to read, designed to fit into a busy lifestyle. Readers should expect quick insights that can be consumed in just a few minutes.

Musical Chairs: The Most Fascinating Institutional Process in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Mar 13
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The selection process for committee chairs in Congress is not just based on seniority, but involves strategic nominations and politics. Members must navigate various factors that influence their chances of being selected.
  2. Democrats in the House use a unique bidding system for subcommittee assignments. Members can protect or pitch their current positions, leading to strategic choices that affect their role and influence.
  3. The Appropriations Committee has its own set of rules that differ from other committees, focusing on subcommittee seniority instead of full committee seniority. This creates distinctive strategies and implications for members vying for valuable positions.
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Perks

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 28 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Members of Congress have to pay Social Security and do not receive free health care; their benefits are similar to other federal employees.
  2. Many perks that were once available to Congress members, like free ice delivery or tax help, have been eliminated due to reforms over the years.
  3. Members can still send mail and travel, but now they have budgets for those expenses, which makes them more careful with spending compared to the past.

How's your 302(b) looking? Strong...to quite strong

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 27 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The congressional budget process is complicated but important. It involves planning for the next fiscal year's budget, and the President has to submit a budget to Congress each February.
  2. 302(b) allocations divide spending among subcommittees and set limits on how much each can spend. This means subcommittees can't really cut overall spending and instead fight for larger shares of the same budget pie.
  3. Changes in the budget process have shifted responsibility for controlling spending from the Appropriations Committee to the Budget Committee. This has affected how subcommittees operate and strategize for their funding requests.

Wonk Time: Increase the MRA in the House?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Congress members have a budget called the Member's Representational Allowance (MRA) to pay for staff, travel, and office expenses. This budget is determined by distance from Washington, cost of living, and the number of voters in their district.
  2. Currently, each member has about $1.4 million to $1.5 million for these expenses, which is significantly less than the $20 million suggested for better staffing. Many representatives are hesitant to increase their budgets due to political pressures from voters.
  3. Increasing staff budgets could help Congress function better, but it's hard to achieve because voters generally don't support higher spending for their representatives or their staff. Any change would likely need to be subtle and carefully managed.

Sad Tuesday

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Mar 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. When a Representative dies, the Clerk of the House takes over their duties and the office continues functioning until a new Representative is elected.
  2. The deceased Representative's family receives financial benefits, including salary payments and a death gratuity.
  3. The House adjusts its total number of Members, and a special election is called to fill the vacant seat left by the Representative's passing.

Thy Rod and Thy Staff

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 16 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. There are over 30,000 people working in the legislative branch of the federal government. This number is small compared to the total of about 2.75 million employees in the executive branch.
  2. Members of Congress can hire their staff in various roles, but they have to follow certain rules and budget constraints. Each Representative can hire a maximum of 18 permanent staff members.
  3. In recent years, the number of staff working for congressional leadership has increased significantly, while the number of committee staff has actually decreased.

Turnover

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. High staff turnover can affect the efficiency of congressional offices, but it's not always as serious as it seems. Many staffers move between offices, which can mean they still have valuable experience.
  2. The study on turnover is affected by unique situations, like the 2010 election when many staffers changed jobs because of a big shakeup. This makes the data a bit tricky to interpret.
  3. Spending more on staff salaries doesn't automatically make offices better at representing their constituents. Each office has a budget that also covers things like supplies and communications.

Required Reading

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 01 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Members of Congress sometimes don't know what's in the bills they vote on. This concern has led to proposals for them to certify that they've read the bills.
  2. Legislation is often complex and requires precise language, which makes it hard to understand without help. That's why bills usually come with committee reports explaining them in simpler terms.
  3. Many bills reference existing laws to make their intentions clear. This can create a complicated web of legal references that makes understanding the new law difficult.

Resigned but Not Forgotten

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Resigning from the House of Representatives involves writing a formal letter to both the state governor and the House, notifying them of the decision. This ensures that the resignation is official and follows proper procedures.
  2. When a Representative resigns, it creates a vacancy that allows the state to hold special elections to fill the position. This process is important to keep the House fully represented.
  3. The resignation also affects the total number of members in the House. When someone resigns, the official count of the House changes, which can impact voting and quorum requirements.

In Which A Whig Thinks About Recess Appointments

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 04 Jan 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. There are two key ideas at odds when it comes to government appointments: keeping Congress involved in appointments and ensuring that the government runs smoothly even when Congress is out of session. Both are important for a functioning democracy.
  2. The way Congress operates today is very different from when the Constitution was written. Shorter breaks and more frequent sessions mean that the need for recess appointments isn't as pressing as it once was.
  3. There's still confusion about what exactly counts as a 'recess' for making appointments. Different interpretations can lead to a lot of disagreement and may shift power between the presidency and Congress.

Some Quick-hit House Floor Notes

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The House adopted a special rule to handle the payroll tax bill, allowing quicker action on legislation before the new session starts. This gives them more flexibility to respond to deals quickly.
  2. There was a debate about the House's procedure for rejecting Senate amendments, with some people feeling frustrated but others pointing out it was a normal way to handle things.
  3. A resolution disapproving of comments made by a Representative was tabled quickly, showing how some discussions can get cut off in the House.

Fasten your wonk belts: let's talk rule layover waivers in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. In the House, new bills can't be voted on the same day they're introduced. Usually, they need to wait one legislative day, but there are special rules to speed things up.
  2. The Rules Committee plays a big role in deciding which bills come to the floor and how they're discussed. They can create special rules that allow for quick consideration and limit debate.
  3. Special rules are common in the House and can waive many usual procedural requirements. This allows the majority party to manage legislation more flexibly.

In this world but not of this world

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 12 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The President has a different job than Congress members, needing to achieve goals quickly because they serve a maximum of eight years. This often leads to frustration with the slower pace of Congress.
  2. Unlike Congress members, the President must focus on winning important votes and achieving results to justify their role. This creates a pressure that can lead to risky decisions for quick victories.
  3. The unique position of the President can make them feel isolated in Washington, as their goals and strategies often clash with the longer-term approaches of other political actors.

Talking about the filibuster

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The term 'filibuster' can be confusing and it's important to use it correctly when discussing Senate events. Just because a vote fails doesn't mean the filibuster didn't happen.
  2. Using clear language like 'defeated by a motion to end debate' can provide better understanding than just saying 'filibustered.' It tells readers exactly what occurred.
  3. The concept of a filibuster is more about strategy and tactics than just blocking a vote. Various actions can lead to preventing a majority vote, and it's good to see it as a process, not just one event.

Once upon a time, today was very important

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Congress used to start meetings on the first Monday in December, which created a yearly gap between elections and new sessions. This meant that elected officials often had to wait a long time before taking office.
  2. In the early days of the U.S., voting for the Speaker of the House was much more chaotic and could take weeks or even months. There were many small parties and factions, making it hard to find a consensus.
  3. A famous Speaker election battle happened in 1859, where the House was deadlocked for two months because different groups couldn't agree on a candidate. This showed how divided the political landscape was back then.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. A bill must be approved by both the House and Senate before it can become law. This process ensures that both chambers agree on the same version of the bill.
  2. The enrollment process is where the final version of the bill is prepared and verified after passing both chambers. This includes checking for any errors before it goes to the President.
  3. Delays in presenting a bill to the President can happen for strategic reasons, like gathering support for an override if a veto is expected or timing a bill's signing for maximum impact.

Whigging out

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 30 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Congress has the power to shape its own support systems, like the Congressional Budget Office, but if they weaken these tools, they risk giving more power to the President.
  2. It’s tough for Congress to challenge the President directly because the President has a unified message and strong public support, making it hard for Congress to counter effectively.
  3. Congress can either centralize power to act more decisively or expand its capacity to gather information, but these approaches often conflict and can create internal tensions within the legislature.

The Other Caucuses

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Political parties in Congress have their own rules, which are separate from the House of Representatives' official rules. These party rules help organize how members work together and make decisions.
  2. Caucuses, which are groups of party members in Congress, have a key role in choosing committee chairs and leadership. They consider factors like seniority, merit, and proposal from a committee before nominations are made.
  3. Caucus rules can also affect how much power party leadership has, and they can create a better or worse position for leaders depending on how the rules are structured.

Senior Moment

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 28 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. When a senior representative from a state retires, it can impact that state's influence in Congress. New members usually have to start from scratch without the same seniority or connections.
  2. States with experienced representatives have a better chance of getting powerful positions in the House. This is because seniority helps members get put into important roles more easily.
  3. Having a lot of experienced representatives in a state can be more beneficial than just having a few highly experienced ones. A state with more representatives can gain more powerful roles as they have a larger pool of seniority.

Research Note: Member Pay

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Congressional salaries have increased significantly since the 19th century, much faster than inflation.
  2. Today's members of Congress earn similarly in real dollars to what their counterparts did a century ago.
  3. The system for adjusting congressional pay has changed over time, leading to more stable earnings but potentially less buying power due to rejection of automatic raises.

I'll take "Things That Surprised Me" for $200

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Many amendments are proposed in Congress each year, covering various topics like budget limits and campaign finance. It's interesting how legislation can touch on so many issues.
  2. Despite the long history of pro-life amendments being introduced, there haven't been any recent proposals in Congress. This shows a shift in focus for some groups.
  3. The lack of recent anti-abortion amendments raises questions about the changing strategies of movements over time. It makes one wonder what other factors are at play in these decisions.

More Congressional Jargon

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 12 Nov 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Congress has its own special language filled with jargon that staffers use. Terms like 'BTU'd' and 'ping-pong' describe specific political situations.
  2. 'Push-back' refers to when groups disagree with proposed legislation, while 'face time' means the one-on-one time staffers get with their bosses.
  3. There are various informal processes, like 'hotline' and 'suspension,' that help move bills quickly through Congress, often requiring teamwork and negotiation.

Saturday APD-Congress Blogging: Clustered Voting in the House

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 29 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The House floor is very important for making decisions and debates. Its rules and practices influence how Members of Congress spend their time both on and off the floor.
  2. Clustered voting allows Representatives to postpone multiple votes until a planned time. This means they don't have to constantly be on the floor and can manage their time more efficiently.
  3. While clustered voting improves scheduling and efficiency, it can lead to less debate and member engagement. Many members might not be present during discussion, which changes how they interact with issues and each other.

On legislative volume

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 12 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Most laws in Congress are passed after October 1, with only about 16% being approved before that date. This shows that lawmakers need time to debate and finalize legislation.
  2. There is a clear link between the amount of legislation passed before and after October 1. More laws passed early often leads to more laws passed later, mainly because of the nature of the legislation being discussed.
  3. The 112th Congress didn't pass a huge number of laws, but its output before October 1 was similar to previous divided Congresses. This raises questions about what factors really influence legislative productivity.

On non-debatable motions

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 07 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The Senate can create new precedents through motions and appeals, changing how rules are applied. This means they can clarify what is considered a dilatory motion after cloture.
  2. When cloture is invoked, it doesn't stop everything; it sets up specific rules for how the Senate continues. This includes limits on debate and what types of amendments can be introduced.
  3. In the Senate, certain motions can't be debated once cloture is in effect. This allows for quicker decisions and can affect how the minority party engages in debate.

On Carpetbagging

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Many Senators are not born in the same state they represent. Historically, about 58% of them are from their state, but this has changed over time.
  2. Western expansion influenced where politicians were born, with more from the east initially moving to the western states. This has led to changing patterns of where politicians are from.
  3. Senators tend to have less local connection compared to House Representatives. This difference has narrowed since Senators started being elected by the public more often after 1914.

On institutional mirages

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The current budgeting issues in Congress are more about politics than the process itself. Changing the timeline may not solve the underlying disagreements about money and priorities.
  2. Switching to a two-year budgeting system could lead to more intense political battles. The pressure might shift from an annual basis to a crisis point every two years.
  3. Moving to biennial budgeting might create complications, like more supplemental funding needs. It could end up being less efficient rather than streamlining the process.

On leadership

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 27 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Not many people have served in top leadership positions in both the House and Senate. It’s a rare transition, mainly because moving to the Senate means starting over with seniority.
  2. Three out of the five leaders who made the jump from House to Senate went on to serve in Senate leadership positions. This shows that ambition plays a big role in their career paths.
  3. Personal traits are important for leadership. Many of these leaders likely sought out leadership roles because they had natural leadership qualities, not just because of their circumstances.

How often does the majority lose in the House?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 22 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The majority in the House rarely loses votes. It's not a common occurrence for them to be defeated.
  2. When they do lose, it can happen in several ways, like pulling a bill before a vote or losing the vote on a specific rule.
  3. In the past, the majority leadership lost more often due to less party unity and more control by the leadership over their members.

Congressional Jargon

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 14 Sep 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Congressional jargon includes terms like 'unanimous consent' and 'markup notes' which help staffers communicate effectively in the legislative process.
  2. Understanding phrases like 'rattle the cage' and 'running the traps' can give insight into the strategies and procedures used in Congress.
  3. Jargon can also reflect the urgency and dynamics of the legislative environment, like 'the smell of jet fuel' indicating a rush before the weekend.

More on the anti-empire amendment

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 10 Jun 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Limiting military deployment without a declaration of war can reduce the chances of entering unnecessary conflicts. This means fewer soldiers would be put at risk without Congress's approval.
  2. If Congress declares war, it gives the President more power, but if no declaration exists and military action is taken, the President loses some legislative influence. This balances the powers between Congress and the President.
  3. The proposed amendment aims to discourage both Congress and the President from engaging in military actions lightly, promoting accountability and encouraging the end of wars when necessary.

Strike the last word

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The House is trying out an open rule for legislation, which is different from the usual closed rules. This allows more members to have a say in changes to the bill.
  2. Although open rules can let members propose amendments, many won't be discussed due to time limits and other restrictions. So, not everything gets a chance to be heard.
  3. If the process goes smoothly, it might lead to more open rules in the future, changing how the House operates. This could be a positive change, but it won't fix all the issues with legislative debate.

Research Note: 2011 House and Senate Calendars

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 08 Dec 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The House has specific days for expected votes, marked in brown. This helps people understand when important decisions will be made.
  2. Days without expected votes are marked in white, indicating when the House will not be voting.
  3. The Senate calendar includes recess days, marked in red, showing when they will not be in session. It's important to know to track legislative activity.

On Career Paths

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Nov 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. Historically, many Senators had experience in the House, but it seems less common now. This suggests that moving from the House to the Senate used to be a more typical career path for politicians.
  2. Before the 1840s, it was not unusual for Representatives to have previously served in the Senate, showing how political careers were more interconnected back then.
  3. Claude Pepper is a significant example of someone who served in both the Senate and the House, but he was the last of his kind, highlighting a change in political career trends.

On the consequences of landslides

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 06 Nov 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The Democratic Party is becoming more liberal due to recent election losses primarily affecting conservative members. This means future policies might lean more to the left.
  2. The Democrats will have to adjust their leadership as they lose a position, which may reflect their new, more liberal direction.
  3. Overall, the shape of the Democratic caucus is changing, so we can expect different discussions and decisions moving forward.

Five Points About Impeachment

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 27 Sep 10
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress
  1. The Constitution outlines impeachment but doesn't give detailed rules on how it should happen.
  2. Impeachment is heavily influenced by politics and public opinion, which play a big role in the process.
  3. Key players to watch are moderate members of the House and Senate, as their opinions can sway the outcome.