LegBranch conversations: An interview with Jaime Harrison
In this edition of LegBranch conversations, Marian Currinder interviews Jaime Harrison about his new book, Climbing the Hill, co-authored with Amos Snead. Harrison and Snead, longtime staff members… Read More
New R Street policy paper: How young lawyers can help restore congressional capacity
Nearly eighty percent of Americans disapprove of the way Congress does its job. Much of the blame can be attributed to its failure to substantively address many of the policy… Read More
Staff have the skills to assist Congress, but they need more resources
By Jennifer L. Selin and Hanna K. Brant At a recent hearing before the House Committee on Rules, Democracy Reform Task Force Chair Representative John Sarbanes… Read More
Video: History of congressional staffing
Congress needs staff to carry out the duties prescribed by the Constitution and demanded by the public. LegBranch.org’s Kevin Kosar discusses how from 1900 to 1990, Congress sporadically… Read More
Congress isn’t paying its interns enough
(Editor’s note: This piece originally appeared in the Washington Post on September 3, 2018.) By Barbara A. Trish Here’s an idea to ponder on Labor Day: Why… Read More
How diverse are Democratic Senate offices? You might be surprised …
Seemingly every year, journalists tweet pictures of House and Senate interns, offering photographic evidence that those interning in the branch of government most connected to the people don’t really look… Read More
How committee staffers clear the runway for legislative action in Congress
Admittedly, the audience at this spring’s “The State of Congressional Capacity Conference” was a receptive one. Congressional scholars from across the country gathered and presented research asking and… Read More
To delegate or not to delegate: Committee staff, congressional capacity, and executive authority
Image source: POGO By Austin Bussing From repeated, thinly-veiled threats to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller to drastic tariff hikes on steel and aluminum, the administration of president Donald J. Read More
How do congressional committee staff turnover rates compare to personal staff turnover?
Congressional committees are typically thought of as bastions of policy expertise, where committed aides dive deep into the wonkery of narrow issue areas and make careers on Capitol Hill. After… Read More
Legislative staff are spending an increasing amount of time on constituent services
Image Source: Wired The now famous Indivisible guide to grassroots activism advocates mass, coordinated constituent communication with members of Congress, among other tactics. Recent research has, however, shown… Read More