The hottest Political Process Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways

You don't hate Congress. You hate losing.

Matt’s Five Points • 319 implied HN points • 16 May 24

Congress is not popular, and its approval ratings are quite low, often under 20%. This means many people express frustration with it, but it often stems from deeper feelings of losing in the political system.
Losing in a democracy can feel terrible. Whether it's in Congress or at a local meeting, people often get upset when their views aren't prioritized or when they don't get their way.
Everyone is capable of feeling like losers in politics because decisions often have winners and losers. This frustration is common and can lead to heated feelings about politicians and government processes.

How much power does Speaker pro tempore McHenry have?

Matt’s Five Points • 419 implied HN points • 04 Oct 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Government Leadership Political Process

Patrick McHenry is acting as Speaker pro tempore following the vacancy of the Speaker's position. His authority is uncertain and is a topic of debate within the House.
There is no clear precedent for what powers McHenry holds, which makes it difficult to determine if he can conduct normal House business or just oversee the election of a new Speaker.
The decisions McHenry makes now could set important precedents for future Speakers pro tempore, affecting how much power they will have in similar situations.

Procedural Notes on the Motion to Vacate

Matt’s Five Points • 179 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Process Legislation Congress Elections Political parties

A motion to vacate the Speaker's position can happen quickly if done as a Question of Privilege. This allows immediate discussion, unlike a regular resolution.
If the Chair decides the motion is valid, it will lead to a structured debate with set time limits for both sides. If no objections succeed, they will debate it openly.
If the resolution is passed, the Speakership becomes vacant immediately, but that doesn't mean a new Speaker is chosen right away. The House can decide to address other matters first.

American Un-Exceptionalism

Diane Francis • 559 implied HN points • 11 Feb 21

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Process Government Accountability Elections Political Leadership Civic engagement

Many American politicians ignore important issues, focusing instead on their own political gain. This shows a lack of responsibility and awareness of their duties as leaders.
America's political leaders often don't compare well to those in other countries, ignoring that other nations provide better living standards and education for their citizens.
The concept of 'American exceptionalism' is fading because the U.S. is not living up to its potential. The country can do better by learning from successful practices in other developed nations.

Let's Do A Technical Corrections Amenment to the Constitution

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 18 May 18

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitution Legislation Government Political Process

Congress often makes small mistakes when they create big laws, and they usually fix these errors with technical corrections bills. This is a normal part of the legislative process.
The Constitution has some outdated parts that could be fixed with a technical corrections amendment. This could clear up confusing language and bring the Constitution more in line with modern values.
The proposed changes in the amendment would allow younger people to run for office, simplify the electoral process, clarify rules of presidential succession, and remove the outdated natural-born citizen requirement for the presidency.

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FIVE POINTS: The Worst Job in Washington

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 02 Feb 18

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Legislation Political Process Campaigns Governance

Being a Congressman is getting less enjoyable. Many members are spending more time on boring tasks and fundraising rather than making laws and engaging in policy discussions.
The budget process is messy and needs reform, but figuring out how to change it is complicated. Many agree it's broken, but the details of how to fix it are hard to sort out.
There's a lot of talk about an infrastructure plan, but it seems to keep getting delayed. With so many other issues on the table, it's unclear when or if it will actually happen.

FIVE POINTS: Those Midwinter Divided-Caucus Blues

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jan 18

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Legislation Political parties Governance Political Process

Party caucus rules are crucial but not well understood. These rules help shape how decisions are made in Congress without input from the opposing party.
Control over the agenda can prevent a bill that has majority support from being passed. This means that even if most members want something, they might not get to vote on it if the majority party decides against it.
Many people are actively thinking about Congress and its function today. There are lots of good discussions and articles that you can read to learn more about how it all works.

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 Legislation Political Process Democratic Party

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.
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.
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.

Required Reading

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 01 Feb 12

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Congress Government Policy Political Process

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.
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.
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 Legislation Elections Governance Political Process

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.
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.
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.

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 Legislation Congress Government Political Process

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.
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.
Special rules are common in the House and can waive many usual procedural requirements. This allows the majority party to manage legislation more flexibly.

On Supercommittees and Blooming

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 14 Dec 11

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Bipartisanship Government Political Process

The proposal allows certain bipartisan legislation to skip filibusters and amendments for faster voting. This is meant to encourage more collaboration between political parties.
There's a concern that the requirement for bipartisan support may favor Republican ideas over Democratic ones. Democrats would need more votes to pass their proposals than Republicans would.
The likelihood of passing a moderate bipartisan bill under this plan seems low, as it may lead to passing more conservative legislation instead.

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Dec 11

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Congress Government Political Process

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.
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.
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.

GOP Debate: Let's get historical!

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 19 Oct 11

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Debates History Candidates Political Process Religious Influence

Candidates often reference U.S. history during debates, but it can sometimes lead to misunderstandings. For example, Gingrich made some points about the Declaration of Independence that were not entirely accurate.
The idea of doing debates like the Lincoln-Douglas ones today raises questions about whether modern candidates would agree to it. Many campaigns prefer the controlled environments of current debates.
Long debates might not hold voters' attention because people have shorter attention spans today. A three-hour format could be too much for audiences now, making it less effective.

On institutional mirages

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 05 Oct 11

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Budgeting Congress Governance Political Process

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.
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.
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 no-longer-quite-as-special interests

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 20 Sep 11

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Process Legislation Political History Government Policy

It's important for political leaders to clearly state their plans in writing. This helps them show their true intentions instead of being vague.
Changes in policy proposals can happen depending on who is in power. Certain proposals that would have been unthinkable before might be on the table now.
Strong political figures can greatly influence debates and decisions in Congress. Their presence can lead to more accountability and dialogue about important issues.

Congressional Jargon

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 14 Sep 11

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Government Political Process Congress

Congressional jargon includes terms like 'unanimous consent' and 'markup notes' which help staffers communicate effectively in the legislative process.
Understanding phrases like 'rattle the cage' and 'running the traps' can give insight into the strategies and procedures used in Congress.
Jargon can also reflect the urgency and dynamics of the legislative environment, like 'the smell of jet fuel' indicating a rush before the weekend.

Strike the last word

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 17 Feb 11

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Congress Democracy Political Process Reform

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.
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.
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.

The procedural statehood process, explained

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 23 Oct 20

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Congress Political Process Voting Rights

Puerto Rico's statehood has become a hot topic after Hurricane Maria, with many believing it could improve federal responses to disasters. There's ongoing discussion in Congress about adding Puerto Rico and Washington, DC as new states.
To create a new state, Congress needs to pass a law, and the process isn't complicated. However, statehood can change political power, leading to lots of debates and negotiations over who gets admitted and how.
Public support in Puerto Rico is divided about statehood, with past votes showing mixed results. Congress is unlikely to admit Puerto Rico without clear majority support from its residents in upcoming voting.