Podcast: What are the politics of the coronavirus pandemic?

March 28, 2020
Listen here. This week, Julia, Lee, and James ask special guest Philip Rocco about the politics of public health emergencies. Philip is an Assistant… Read More

In Congress, assembled: A virtual Congress creates more problems than it solves

March 26, 2020
The coronavirus has disrupted life for millions of Americans. People across the country have altered their daily routines in a bid to slow its spread. In many states, bars, churches,… Read More

James Wallner on coronavrius and Congress

March 24, 2020

Congress needs to enable itself to operate remotely

March 23, 2020
“Two members of Congress have already tested positive for covid-19. Imagine if 250 members of the House or 55 members of the Senate contracted the disease and were hospitalized or… Read More

Podcast: Should the House have more members?

March 19, 2020
Are 435 members able to represent effectively a diverse electorate comprised of almost 330 million people? If not, how many members should the House have? And will increasing the size… Read More

What has Congress done about Coronavirus so far?

March 13, 2020
Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine What has actually passed so far? H.R. 6074, Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, was introduced and passed under suspension of the… Read More

How can Congress keep working during COVID-19 while keep legislators and staff safe?

March 12, 2020
The rapid spread of coronavirus has made it unsafe and unwise for members of Congress — many of whom are among those most likely to become grievously ill — to… Read More

ICYMI: 70 former senators declare that Congress is failing in its duties

February 26, 2020
The Washington Post ran this letter from 70 former Democratic and Republican senators: An open letter to the U.S. Senate: Congress is not fulfilling its constitutional duties. Much of the… Read More

Event: Is Congress too conflictual?

February 25, 2020
Illustration of Judge David S. Terry stabbing S.A. Hopkins of the Vigilance Committee in 1856. RSVP March 9, 2020 12pm Rayburn 2043 The chambers of… Read More

The power of privacy in legislative negotiations

February 21, 2020
Academics and commentators often bemoan legislative gridlock. The public is similarly frustrated by Congress’ failure to solve problems. For instance, in a 2016 Gallup poll, just 13 percent of… Read More