Have you ever wondered why congressional procedure confuses you so much? Don’t let it get you down: it isn’t you, it’s the Congress. The Library of Congress posted a copy of this 1974 Legislative Status Steps poster by Frank B. Ryan online in the summer of 2011, and even though their version measured over two [...]

In the Republican presidential debate of August 11 2011, contender Tim Pawlenty said of fellow contender Michele Bachmann, “Representative Bachmann’s record of accomplishment is nonexistent.” Is this true? Let’s summarize Rep. Bachmann’s actual record in the 110th, 111th and 112th Congresses: In the 112th Congress, Michele Bachmann introduced 7 bills. None passed. In the 111th [...]

Through the 111th Congress of 2009-2010 and into the 112th Congress of 2011-2012, an urban myth regarding the U.S. Congress has been making the rounds. HB 1388, the story goes in bulletin board posts by Hutaree Tina Stone and in e-mails ricocheting about the Internet, has just been passed by Democratic legislators and signed into [...]

As of May 3, 2011, the following are the members of Congress in the House of Representatives who have introduced the most pieces of legislation: 1. Rep. Bob Filner of California’s 51st District 2. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas’ 18th District 3. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas’ 14th District 4. Rep. Don Young, representing [...]

America Speaking Out is a website set up by Congressional Republicans at which Americans of all ideological persuasions and partisan affiliations are invited to propose changes to the Republican legislative platform, vote on others’ proposals, and engage in follow-up discussion. To help further this sort of online civic discussion — and to make it more [...]

Senator Tom Carper of Delaware has introduced 37 non-symbolic bills to the United States Senate for consideration. A quick summary of them: 1 bill to declare that chain restaurants and cafeterias must be able to produce nutrition information for meals if someone asks for them. 1 bill to require that the Department of Education accredit [...]

On October 11, tens of thousands of Americans marched through the streets of Washington, DC demanding equal protection under law for gay and lesbian people and for same-sex couples. The National Equality March clearly succeeded in attracting media attention, as wire services and newspapers and television cameras recorded and reported on the event. But the [...]

When you are elected to the United States Congress, a heavy burden is placed on your shoulders. You must sit in comfortable chairs and pose for photographs. You must shake hands with people, some of whom have funny names you must remember. You must smile. You must have your secretary write press releases for you. [...]

Todd Akin was first elected to Congress more than eight years ago, giving him more than enough time to get his bearings, figure out how a bill becomes a law, and gear up for some actual work. Here’s the sum total of the legislation Todd Akin has introduced in the 111th Congress: H.R. 1216: a [...]