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Demystifying Congress

A collection of 24 issues

Why A Few Bills Become Law & Most Don't

"Teamwork makes the dream work!" is not a common refrain in the halls of Congress. Capitol Hill is 535 small businesses (100 Senators and 435 Congresspeople) that each have - with few exceptions - one main political motivation: reelection. The reason meaningful gun control is so hard to

There Are Two Types of Politicians

At a conference I was once at, a man started his talk by saying, "There are two types of people. Those who think there are two types of people and those who don't." Of course, I like to think that I'm the enlightened latter.

How to Call a Politician's Bluff

A great many politicians are in the business of introducing bills. A much smaller number of politicians are in the business of passing them. Last Congress, 17,817 bills were introduced. Congress has two-year sessions that start the January after an election. Each session is called - and they brought

Understanding a Politician's Mind

Should you find yourself with a spare moment one afternoon. And should you think to yourself, I will use this spare moment to watch a bit of C-SPAN. And should you happen to turn it on when there is a Tough Vote on the floor of the House of Representatives,