House
Disarming the Speaker
Laura Blessing | March 12, 2024
Another shutdown threat barely averted, and another stopgap spending bill passed with more to follow, while major legislation stagnates. If this feels familiar, you’re not alone. But how difficult is this moment we’re in? Congress has been derided as a “do nothing” institution before: in 1880, in 1948, and more recently with the divided government
Party Ties: Moderate Republicans’ Predicament
Last week, Freedom Caucus members blocked another a series of spending bills from reaching the House floor. Their opposition has stymied Speakers McCarthy and Johnson alike, forcing them to rely on Democratic votes to pass continuing resolutions and other must-pass legislation. These repeated failures raise questions about the possibility of a “new” majority that could
Three dynamics to watch in the 117th Congress
Matt Glassman | February 1, 2021
The 117th Congress began in earnest on January 20th with the swearing-in of President Biden. Here are three political dynamics to keep an eye on in the coming weeks. Party government vs. bipartisanship. The 117th Congress begins with the Democrats having majorities in both the House and Senate. This makes President Biden the fifth President
GAI in the News
GAI | May 8, 2019
Senior Fellow Mark Harkins discusses the current dust up between House Democrats and the President regarding subpoenas and oversight. Here is the entire article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The origins of the House’s special rules and what it means for the Senate rules change
Josh Huder | April 1, 2019
Procedurally, the House and Senate could not be more different. The House is subject to absolute majority rule. Conversely, the Senate is governed by more bipartisan processes like unlimited debate, supermajority cloture, and unanimous consent. However, the two chambers have become more similar in recent years. Partisan House members moving to the Senate have helped
Congressional Oversight in the 116th
Laura Blessing | March 8, 2019
Congressional oversight in the 116th Congress has gotten off to a roaring start. After two years of unified government in the Trump administration, Democrats are eager to begin looking into a long list of topics now that they have retaken the House. The news cycle, already moving at an exhausting pace, now regularly features oversight efforts
In Search of Good Intelligence Oversight
Katina Slavkova | January 9, 2019
After a moment of pomp and circumstance to accompany the swearing-in of the new Congress, the 116th Congress quickly pivoted to the less glamorous work of legislating. The most immediate concern for Democrats, who now control the House of Representatives, is to end a partial government shutdown that has dragged on for
At the Water’s Edge: Is House Intelligence Oversight As Good As It Gets?
Katina Slavkova | December 18, 2017
There is a common adage in national security and foreign policy debates that “partisan politics stop at the water’s edge.” This famous statement was first coined by the influential chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Sen. Arthur Vandenberg (R-MI) who, at the outset of the Cold War, overcame his political
How long will the “open process” last?
Josh Huder | February 3, 2016
During the Republican retreat two weeks ago Speaker Ryan doubled down on his commitment open the process in the House. The original pledge was offered to satisfy conservative members’ desire for greater input and influence. Anyone with a deliberative-democratic bone in their body should welcome this change and the pledge. However, it comes with
Regular order: Republicans’ risky venture into open debate
Josh Huder | December 1, 2015
Members in the House are calling for regular order. If you have no idea what “regular order” means, don’t worry. You’re not alone. In fact, you’re probably in the company of many members of Congress. Calls for regular order are almost as old as the institution itself. In theory, regular order is open, deliberative processes