Category Archives: legislation and legislatures
“We’re Not Bluffing”
The end of the filibuster of judicial nominees Thursday?
What I think has changed in the last few years is the calculation on the downside of going nuclear. How can Sen. McConnell plausibly threaten to make things worse if Democrats… Continue reading
“Govern, Don’t Obstruct: We Need a Working Senate”
Will Harry Reid Go Nuclear?
If not, he’s a good bluffer.
“ALEC Floats Legislation Chipping Away At The 17th Amendment”
“Earmark Ban Hits Lobbyists’ Influence on Spending Bills”
Roll Call:
If the lobbying world of K Street was as powerful as its public image, earmarks would be back in full force in Congress — or, maybe, they never would have gone away.
The modern lobbying business was built… Continue reading
Goodbye THOMAS, Hello Congress.Gov for Researching Congressional Bills, Etc.
“Bills left in limbo are often just part of the choreography in Congress”
“U.S. Electoral System and Congressional Gridlock”
Watch Rob Richie on C-SPAN.
Drake Law Review Symposium on Political Dysfunction and Constitutional Change
This was a truly great symposium and discussion, now in print.
Drake Law Review
Volume 61, No. 4, Summer 2013
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW SYMPOSIUM
The U.S. Constitution and Political Dysfunction: Is There a Connection?
ARTICLES
Dedication to Congressman Neal Smith
David… Continue reading
Notre Dame Law Review Symposium on Gridlock
Check it out:
2012-2013: The American Congress: Legal Implications of Gridlock, Symposium
Symposium
The Phenomenology of Gridlock
Josh Chafetz, 88 Notre Dame L. Rev 2065
View PDF
The Court-Packing Plan as Symptom, Casualty, and Cause of Gridlock
Barry Cushman, 88… Continue reading
“Number of lobbyists taking jobs in Congress plummets”
“Change Voting Laws Before Constitution”
Rob Richie and Devin McCarthy have written this Fresno Bee oped.
“A Primary Cause of Partisanship? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology”
McGhee, Masket, Shor, Rogers and McCarty have written this article for AJPS. Here is the abstract:
Many theoretical and empirical accounts of representation argue that primary elections are a polarizing influence. Likewise, many reformers advocate opening party nominations to nonmembers… Continue reading