Why do only a small percentage of bills introduced into congress become laws?
Point 1 - Polarisation
Due to gerrymandering, the nature of the house is becoming ever more polarised and radicalised, therefore
making compromises between the two chambers becomes much harder, especially seeing as the senate tend
to be more moderate.
EX: There was large gridlock over the 2012 budget, such as dispute over a $182 billion spending measure to
fund agriculture, criminal justice and housing agencies.
Polarisation can also affect bills in the senate through the use of the filibuster
EX: Rand Paul filibustered the Patriot Act.
The inability of both houses to agree is also displayed by the death of the conference committee which is
used to come to a compromise with both houses’ versions of the bill, they have been abandoned with the
conclusion that they are useless as they rarely agree.
Flair/link: polarisation will affect the attitude of the speaker, as effectively he is a partisan leader of whoever
controls the house.
Flair: The effects of polarisation will be more strongly felt if one party does not control both houses.
Point 2 - Multiple Block Points in Congress:
There are many stages within the process which provide points for blocking legislation
The first reading - too many bills + many get left behind
Committee stage - Pigeon-holed unless support from Congress/Administration
Timetable stage - Senate Majority Leader + House Rules Committee decide on timetabling (Speaker appoints
the HRC)
The Speaker has considerable power to decide on what bills are brought to the floor for debate → EX: Govt
Shutdown because of the budget + Didn’t allow immigration reform 2013.→ Flair: The Hastert Rule adds
considerable blocking points.
EX: 112th Congress (least productive ever) - Only 2.3% of introduced bills became law
Flair: Polarisation means that only bills with enough partisan support will pass through the stages (less
unlikely than ever before)
Point 3 - Presidential Veto
One significant obstruction to the passing of bills is the role of the president. He has the ability to veto
legislation which is where he blocks it (pocket and regular)
EX: Obama has vetoed 4 pieces of legislation so far and has even combined both the pocket + regular veto on
3 out of 4 of these (Protective Return Pocket Veto) → Obama used this on the Labor Relations Bill
EX: Bush vetoed a bill on stem cell research.
Flair: this is more likely to occur during the lame duck stage of the presidency.
Point 1 - Polarisation
Due to gerrymandering, the nature of the house is becoming ever more polarised and radicalised, therefore
making compromises between the two chambers becomes much harder, especially seeing as the senate tend
to be more moderate.
EX: There was large gridlock over the 2012 budget, such as dispute over a $182 billion spending measure to
fund agriculture, criminal justice and housing agencies.
Polarisation can also affect bills in the senate through the use of the filibuster
EX: Rand Paul filibustered the Patriot Act.
The inability of both houses to agree is also displayed by the death of the conference committee which is
used to come to a compromise with both houses’ versions of the bill, they have been abandoned with the
conclusion that they are useless as they rarely agree.
Flair/link: polarisation will affect the attitude of the speaker, as effectively he is a partisan leader of whoever
controls the house.
Flair: The effects of polarisation will be more strongly felt if one party does not control both houses.
Point 2 - Multiple Block Points in Congress:
There are many stages within the process which provide points for blocking legislation
The first reading - too many bills + many get left behind
Committee stage - Pigeon-holed unless support from Congress/Administration
Timetable stage - Senate Majority Leader + House Rules Committee decide on timetabling (Speaker appoints
the HRC)
The Speaker has considerable power to decide on what bills are brought to the floor for debate → EX: Govt
Shutdown because of the budget + Didn’t allow immigration reform 2013.→ Flair: The Hastert Rule adds
considerable blocking points.
EX: 112th Congress (least productive ever) - Only 2.3% of introduced bills became law
Flair: Polarisation means that only bills with enough partisan support will pass through the stages (less
unlikely than ever before)
Point 3 - Presidential Veto
One significant obstruction to the passing of bills is the role of the president. He has the ability to veto
legislation which is where he blocks it (pocket and regular)
EX: Obama has vetoed 4 pieces of legislation so far and has even combined both the pocket + regular veto on
3 out of 4 of these (Protective Return Pocket Veto) → Obama used this on the Labor Relations Bill
EX: Bush vetoed a bill on stem cell research.
Flair: this is more likely to occur during the lame duck stage of the presidency.
