It’s Time to Bring Evidence-Based Policymaking to Congress
A culture of evidence-based policymaking could help rebuild public trust in Congress, increase accountability, and promote transparency, ultimately strengthening the relationship between Congress and the public at large.
POPVOX Foundation Statement on Appointment of Karen E. Donfried as CRS Director
POPVOX Foundation extends our warmest congratulations to Karen E. Donfried on her appointment as the new Director of the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
Sunsetting the First Branch Intern Project
After a four-year run, the First Branch Intern Project is sunsetting now after successfully incubating initiatives to grow Congressional capacity and create new pathways to public service.
The Washington Times: Supreme Court’s overturning of Chevron doctrine spurs push for changes to how Congress works
POPVOX Foundation is pushing the House to adopt rule changes that will improve its capacity to enact new laws and conduct oversight of existing ones as it grapples with a Supreme Court's Loper Bright decision that will put greater demands on the Legislative branch.
The Fulcrum (Op-Ed): Congress must get serious about its capacity or cede power to courts
By overturning the Chevron doctrine, the Supreme Court put the onus on an under-resourced legislative branch to be much more clear in writing laws. If Congress fails to exercise its lawmaking power, it will cede power to the judiciary.
POPVOX Foundation Encourages the House to Create a Chief Data Officer, A Joint Committee on Continuity, and Simpler House Schedule When Adopting Rules for the 119th Congress
POPVOX Foundation’s report provides several proposals that emphasize technological and operational advancements for House lawmakers to consider to help redefine the House’s capabilities to serve constituents and fulfill its Article One mandate.
Staying Safe as A Congressional Staffer – Best Practices
For the district work period, POPVOX Foundation has compiled some best practices informed by current Congressional staff to ensure the safety and security of Congressional teams.
“Future-Proofing Congress” Catalogs Golden Age of Congressional Modernization and Provides Guidance on Strengthening the Legislative Branch
“Future-Proofing Congress” is the definitive guide to understanding how Members of Congress from across the ideological spectrum have worked together since 2019 to improve how Congress functions.
Committee on House Administration Hearing Explores the House’s Path Forward in a Post-Chevron Congress
The Committee on House Administration’s July 23 hearing, “Congress in Post-Chevron World” focused on Congress constitutional lawmaking power and the need to invest in the First Branch of government.
Response to the House “Collaborative Legislative Drafting Study” Request for Information
Modernizing the legislative drafting process is not just about technology – it's about enhancing democracy itself. By improving the tools and processes used to craft legislation, we can increase transparency, foster better collaboration, and ultimately produce laws that more effectively serve the American people.
Public Witness Testimony on Strengthening Congressional Capacity Post-Chevron to House Committee on Administration
POPVOX Foundation Cofounder and Executive Director Marci Harris submitted public testimony for the Committee on House Administration Hearing: “Congress in a Post-Chevron World.”
POPVOX Foundation hosts webinar on coordinating casework with state and local offices
Finding productive ways to coordinate with your state and local counterparts is not only important for handing cases off between jurisdictions, but can also help both sides more efficiently balance casework and outreach.
POPVOX Foundation hosts webinar on proactive casework outreach
With recent changes to House Ethics rules allowing for more cohosted constituent service events, many casework teams are exploring creative strategies to reach constituents and spread the word about their services. But do these work?
The First Branch Intern Project and Internapalooza: A Case Study in Institutional Adoption as a Key Success Indicator
“Internapalooza” — a four-year civil society-led effort to provide a welcome and orientation experience for Congressional interns — demonstrates the success of an approach to “de-risk” institutional change through prototypes and collaboration.
Post Chevron, Congress Has to Get Serious About Capacity
Congress has always had the power to write laws with specificity that make its intentions clear. That includes the intention to give discretion on certain topics to agencies. The post-Chevron caveat is that discretion given to agencies will now need to be explicit.
Announcing Our New Class of Effective Government Fellows
POPVOX Foundation is thrilled to announce our new class of Effective Government Fellows — Uchenna Offorjebe, Kathryn Luedke, and Nick Dokoozlian.
Highlights from “Hill Etiquette for Interns”
A recap of Hill Etiquette for Interns, a virtual event hosted by POPVOX Foundation and the Capitol Hill Intern Association, about how to effectively write quality deliverables and navigate the unique professional landscape of Capitol Hill.
Recap: FY2025 Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch Hearings
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held three hearings that brought funding priorities for the Legislative Branch into sharper focus.
Getting Members Off the Couch: How New Lodging Policies Are Ensuring That More Than Just the Rich Can Serve in Congress
Allowing Members to be reimbursed for their lodging while in DC for official business further opens the door to people who are not independently wealthy to be able to pursue a career as a lawmaker in the House.
Newsweek: The Supreme Court Is About To Make Congress Reinvent Itself
A post-Chevron world could force Congress to increase its internal capacity, invest in expertise, overhaul its processes, better monitor implementation, and respond more quickly. If not, things could start to break.