Enhancing expertise and diversity in committees and staffing
To: The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress From: Michele Swers, Professor of Government, Georgetown University Reform: Enhancing Expertise and Diversity in Committees… Read More
Fundraising requirements should not be a part of the chair/committee assignment process
Editor’s note: Over the next several weeks, LegBranch will be posting a series of reform proposal memos by congressional scholars. These proposals will take up a range of topics, including… Read More
Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress: Member Day Hearing
The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress held a Member Day hearing on March 12, 2019. Testimony from the 31 members who appeared before the committee can be viewed… Read More
Rule on start-up funding for Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress approved
On January 29, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), chair of the Committee on House Administration, introduced H. Res. 86, “providing amounts for the expenses of the Select Committee… Read More
OK, so the House wants to reform itself? Here’s what it should really do.
Early this month, on the opening day of the 116th Congress, something unusual happened: The House of Representatives took a step to reform itself. Legislators approved a package… Read More
Resources: The Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress
LegBranch.org was built to provide visitors with a “one-stop shop” for the latest research, analysis, and commentary on Congress and reform. As the hub for the congressional reform movement,… Read More
Congress finally stands up for itself
Last week, for once, the political world focused on Congress. We heard about Nancy Pelosi’s return as speaker; the large, diverse freshman class in the House of Representatives; and… Read More
Congressional reform without the ideology
Congress needs therapy. Everyone seems to think that the institution isn’t doing its job, but too often what is described as the “problem” doesn’t clearly identify what might be the… Read More
House Democrats revealed their rules package. Here are the biggies.
Late Tuesday night, House Democrats unveiled a wide-ranging set of proposed rules changes. As expected, the changes concentrate on member ethics and corruption, but also touch on issues of… Read More
“Why We Left Congress”: Excerpts of Our Conversation with Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL)
Four-term Congressman Dennis Ross (R-FL) was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives during the 2010 midterm elections. Ross first represented Florida’s 12th Congressional District. He has represented Florida’s 15th… Read More