Newsletters can be delivered electronically, but there are still differences that set them apart from web sites. One of the most important differences is that while people visit a web site when they need to find something specific, a newsletter is personal and provides the basis for an ongoing relationship regardless of how it is … Read more
In his new book “A Better Congress: Change the rules, change the results,” Joseph Gibson proposes a novel idea, why don’t members of Congress use plain English when they write legislation. “If bills were drafted in clearer language, perhaps more members would read and understand them. If the bills then became law, the public might … Read more
Most people are quite familiar with the idea of committees and subcommittees within Congress, but there are also many informal congressional groups. These groups can include informal groups, caucuses and Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs). While they may be called by different names, all of these groups refer to ad hoc social or policy groups that … Read more
“A Better Congress” Author Joseph Gibson Interviewed by Doug McElvein and Debbie Monterrey on Total Information AM, on KMOX-AM, St. Louis, MO Washington insider Joseph Gibson spoke with us about his new book “A Better Congress: Change the Rules, Change the Results”. Listen to the audio here: http://www.thecapitol.net/Publications/ABetterCongress.html From a reader: “Makes a great gift … Read more
Rule 38 The Materials of Advocacy Are Fragile As an advocate, one of your most important tasks is to persuade others to feel and think a certain way about an issue. You must be able to lead others to view your description of an issue or your solution to a problem as the most acceptable … Read more
When preparing to give oral testimony before Congress , there are several rules and protocols you should be prepared to follow. One of these is the time limits for oral testimony. photo credit: Jeffrey Beall Time restrictions for witness testimony are often found in committee rules. The usual rule is five minutes, but in some … Read more
When drafting federal legislation, it is important to ensure you are using the correct style. Style refers to the look and feel of a measure. While it might be assumed that style refers to the words that are used, style actually refers to the way in which words are placed on the page, a combination … Read more
Upcoming Media Appearances by Joseph Gibson, Author of A Better Congress Dec. 13, 2010, 7:43 am Eastern KURV-AM 710 AM, McAllen, TX The Valley’s Morning News, with Sergio Sanchez Dec. 13, 2010, 8:40 am Eastern WBAL-AM 1090 AM, Baltimore, MD Dave Durian and The WBAL Morning Show Dec. 13, 2010, 9:50 am Eastern KMOX-AM , … Read more
Party leadership is responsible for bringing efficiency and order to the legislative body. Party leaders have partisan and institutional functions. The responsibility of the majority leadership is to set the agenda as well as determine legislative priorities and political strategies, assess support for legislation, schedule measures for floor action and round up votes for the … Read more
It’s one of the persistent complaints about our government: Why can’t Congress get anything done? Actually, getting issues debated and voted on is much simpler in the House of Representatives, where only a majority vote is required. But, in the Senate, the process can be much more difficult. Over the past two years, and in … Read more