Updates
What to Expect When You Are Expecting Nothing
Matt Glassman | September 4, 2024
Both the House and Senate will return from their annual summer recess next week. Given the paltry amount of legislation produced during the 118th Congress—just 78 laws enacted, almost none of them notable–you might think Members were gearing up for a strong finish to the second session. But almost nobody expects Congress to do
Special Guests Matt Grossmann and Dave Hopkins
Josh Huder | July 25, 2024
Josh and Matt talk with special guests Matt Grossmann, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research at Michigan State University, and Dave Hopkins, Associate Professor of Political Science at Boston College, to discuss all the weird things happening with today’s political parties.
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | July 25, 2024
Dear Friends, It feels like we’ve said “unprecedented” so often recently, it’s starting to lose its meaning. But there is really no other way to describe the past few weeks (and indeed, months and even years). July is typically a busy time on Capitol Hill, but not usually for the reasons we have seen this
Eroding Checks and Balances: The Immunity Decision
Susan Sullivan Lagon | July 24, 2024
It seems the Founders are out of fashion. Alexander Hamilton’s language could use some updating—but not in the rhythmic style of the eponymous musical. Rather, a core principle of governance, his views of the judiciary as a branch showing “neither force nor will, merely judgement”, are out of step. It is now impossible to see
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | June 24, 2024
Dear Friends, While the upcoming presidential debate might be grabbing headlines this week, there’s also a flurry of activity on the House side of the Capitol as members seek progress on spending bills before heading home for a 4th of July recess. If all goes according to plan (never a guarantee!), we will
Delegation and Deference in the Administrative State: The Fate of Chevron Deference
GAI | June 24, 2024
By Professor Mark Richardson, Georgetown University The Supreme Court is expected to hand down rulings on a number of major cases during the last week in June. The past few years have brought major decisions reshaping jurisprudence and law – including those that overturn long standing precedents – and this year is expected to be
“Unprecedented”
GAI | May 1, 2024
Tune in for our latest podcast episode “Unprecedented” with Mark, Josh, and Matt.
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | April 15, 2024
Dear Friends, With FY2024 funding bills finally off the to-do list, the House and Senate have a bit more bandwidth to focus on other priorities. But even as I write this, events are overtaking the chambers’ planned schedules. Following Iran’s weekend attack on Israel in retaliation for a recent strike, it appears the House
Speaker Johnson: Speaker of the House but not of the Majority
Josh Huder | April 15, 2024
As Congress struggles to act on a myriad of challenges, much of the blame – rightly or wrongly – is being laid at Speaker Johnson’s feet. Currently, he stands in the way of foreign aid packages to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, an FAA reauthorization, the farm bill, and more. However, the scope of
Director’s Desk
Kristin Nicholson | March 12, 2024
Dear Friends, “It’s a huge month for appropriations” isn’t always something we say about March, but nothing is normal on the Hill these days. Now that six FY24 funding bills have finally reached the President’s desk, we look to the next (partial) shutdown deadline ten days away. With huge, complicated bills like Defense and