I remember reading something, somewhere from one of the founding fathers about the original intent of legislators to NOT be a political class. To serve a term or two and go home so that people from outside could contribute and people inside didn't get too jaded. Though maybe I'm adding a lot of subtext. Is there anything from any of the FF's on this that rings a bell? Do you have a quote or two?
posted by rileyray3000
on May 10, 2013 -
3 answers
Am I reading the US Constitution Article III Section 2 correctly, when it seems to say that Congress can legislatively make exceptions to the Supreme Court having appellate jurisdiction? If I am reading it correctly, have they ever done so, or has there ever been a serious proposal to do so? Are any such exceptions in place now? What were/are the details of such exceptions?
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posted by Flunkie
on Jan 20, 2013 -
4 answers
I know timing the market is stupid. My previous attempts at it have never worked out in my favor. My 401K is all index funds. However, with the possibility of Congress going over the 'Fiscal Cliff," it is a horrible idea to go all cash until they get it sorted out?
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posted by COD
on Dec 4, 2012 -
23 answers
How can I find a specific politician's voting record online, going back 50 years or so?
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posted by LonnieK
on Oct 22, 2012 -
2 answers
I would like to help some Democratic candidates get elected to US Senate. Where will my money make the most difference?
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posted by Afroblanco
on Sep 27, 2012 -
22 answers
In 2010 or 2011 US congress passed some legislation which resulted in a reduction of unemployment benefits. For example, My 2 week unemployment check went from $520 to $476. What was the legislation?
posted by Charlie Lesoine
on Feb 6, 2012 -
7 answers
How did the U.S. House of Representatives pass the payroll tax cut extension yesterday when hardly any members were present?
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posted by Tin Man
on Dec 24, 2011 -
11 answers
Congresspeople and candidates call me. What should I ask them? What should I tell them?
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posted by grumdrig
on Nov 17, 2011 -
12 answers
Can anyone explain to me the reason why the pay for members of the United States Congress is paid by the federal government and not their respective states? Was such a system ever considered and rejected and, if so, why? I recognize that the offices are federal, but their ties to their state is the very reason they are there. Wouldn't state legislatures want that control or were they happy to dump the costs onto the federal government? This seems like something that would have been debated very early in our history yet I can't find any info on it.
Thanks.
posted by Jamesonian
on Jul 7, 2011 -
7 answers
Let's say the Congress and the President are unable to reach a deal on raising the debt limit by August 4th. And let's just say, among the things that happen is that buyers of U.S. Treasury notes, bonds, Tbills, etc. on the August 15th Treasury sale demand a much higher interest rate to compensate for the fact that the "full faith and credit of the U.S." has been tarnished.
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posted by CollectiveMind
on Jul 5, 2011 -
5 answers
Budget Battle Question: someone on Facebook made the argument that the Democrats should have passed the budget during the last session, when they still held the majority in both houses. Is there some procedural or other technical reason why they did not or could not have done so?
posted by briank
on Apr 8, 2011 -
4 answers
16 years ago, a Congressional Task Force was set up to study a major policy issue. Six months later, its report led to far-reaching legislative changes. Despite extensive news coverage from creation to completion, the report itself is virtually inaccessible.
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posted by anigbrowl
on Mar 7, 2011 -
9 answers
Does anyone know where I can find a list of the ubiquitous "several conservative members of congress" who recently spoke out against the clip from David Wojnarowicz's "A Fire In My Belly" video at the National Portrait Gallery?
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posted by Bengston
on Dec 30, 2010 -
2 answers
Where can I find data on US federal income tax brackets by congressional district? My goal is making a fairly accurate statement of the form "Congressperson X represents a district where Y people are in tax bracket Z."
posted by ecurtz
on Dec 10, 2010 -
6 answers
What are the best resources and/or approaches for an attorney seeking employment on Capitol Hill?
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posted by snorkels
on Dec 4, 2010 -
5 answers
Jobhack/automation filter: Please help me track legislation and its proposed changes to the U.S. Code.
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posted by jalexc
on Aug 6, 2010 -
3 answers
"
Proceedings of the House of Representatives, including any recording of such proceedings, may not be used for any political purpose or in any commercial advertisement, and may not be broadcast with commercial sponsorship except as part of a bona fide news program or public affairs documentary program," according to
houselive.gov. Why and
how would or could this possibly be?!
posted by finite
on Jul 27, 2010 -
7 answers
After months of behind-the-scenes work, I'll be running for U.S. Congress and announcing next week. My question to you: what is it that you've always wanted to hear a politician say or do?
posted by anonymous
on May 11, 2010 -
66 answers
What just happened on C-Span? There was some health care related vote. What exactly did that vote decide?
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posted by stuart_s
on Mar 21, 2010 -
10 answers
How do I run for U.S. House of Representatives in New York State as a Third Party Candidate? Also, is too late to run in 2010? I was planning on running in 2012, but there's a bit of an opening in 2010 so if I could still do that, I would like to.
Also, I want to know how to
run for the U.S. House of Representatives, I could care less about actually getting elected for the job.
What paperwork do I fill out, how do I get my name on a Diebold machine, etc..?
Oh, and money really isn't a concern, so forget about the fund raising portion.
posted by Bathtub Bobsled
on Mar 6, 2010 -
11 answers
What procedure would one conceivably follow in order to propose a hiking trail be named for a person in the state of Oregon?
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posted by naplesyellow
on Dec 4, 2009 -
5 answers
I've been reading a lot of conflicting information about the U.S. health care reform bill (HR 3200) and its potential impact on different groups of Americans. I tried to read the bill, but it's over a thousand pages and is written in mind-numbing legalese. Is there a place online where I can find comprehensive, non-partisan, easily understandable information about the bill?
posted by zembla3
on Aug 18, 2009 -
12 answers
I want to write my U.S. Congressman on at least one delicate topic. But, I'm kind of paranoid that my letter will become public record that is subject to a FOIA request. I have a very distinctive name that when Googled, I pop up immediately in the form of my professional profile. I don't want what I write to my Congressman to be available to anyone to read and who then pops my name into a search engine and they find me on the internet.
Am I disenfranchised from making my opinion known or can I write without fear?
FYI - there is nothing I can do about my name or my profile being on the internet.
posted by Leezie
on Jun 22, 2009 -
12 answers
How many members of the United States Congress have tattoos?
posted by boots
on Apr 29, 2009 -
10 answers
I am trying to find web sites where I could send members of my organization to customize an email message that would then be sent to their proper Congressman.
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posted by cgk
on Mar 16, 2009 -
9 answers
Wikipedia has a wicked diagram of where everyone sits in the House of Commons. Does anyone know of a similar diagram for the US House of Representatives?
posted by Dr. Send
on Nov 25, 2008 -
6 answers
How can I research how a particular act of the U.S. Congress came into existence - with as much detail as is possible about how it changed from proposal to final act and how it was influenced along the way?
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posted by croutonsupafreak
on Nov 8, 2008 -
12 answers
On November 4th, I intend to spend the evening watching election returns on TV and refreshing as many election-y tabs on the laptop as possible. What websites should I have loaded and ready to go?
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posted by rtha
on Oct 24, 2008 -
25 answers
Where can I find the recent government report that claims that Iraq has achieved 15 of 18 benchmarks set for its political development?
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posted by zainsubani
on Jul 17, 2008 -
11 answers
What makes a U.S congressional bill non-binding? Is there a way to tell from the text of the bill itself?
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posted by metadave
on Jun 23, 2008 -
11 answers
Can I get Congressional Voting Records in an easily parsed format?
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posted by SAC
on Apr 10, 2008 -
4 answers
Two to three questions involving the pending FISA bill--specifically the immunity provisions.
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posted by dsword
on Jan 24, 2008 -
13 answers
American history question: before modern transportation, how much time did congressmen spend in Washington and how much in their home states? Especially those from, say, California. And how long did the journey take?
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posted by creasy boy
on Jan 10, 2008 -
13 answers
Why is the US House pushing to declare the deaths of Armenians as a genocide committed by the then Ottoman Empire/now Turkey?
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posted by SeizeTheDay
on Oct 14, 2007 -
41 answers
How many of the current crop of 535 US congress people have law degrees?
posted by iconjack
on Sep 8, 2007 -
9 answers
[AppropriationsFilter] If the Democrats vote *against* funding the troop escalation, what recourse does the President have to follow through with his plan?
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posted by willie11
on Feb 7, 2007 -
4 answers
So, not that it matters, but, were I to make a paltry political contribution, what would be the most strategic fund for a donation?
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posted by cytherea
on Oct 19, 2006 -
16 answers
Does anyone know where I can find a video of Rep. Cynthia McKinney singing P!nk's "Dear Mr. President" during her concession speech last night?
posted by awesomebrad
on Aug 9, 2006 -
4 answers
Is there an online tool that simplifies writing similar letters to each of one's elected officials?
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posted by chefscotticus
on Jul 30, 2006 -
3 answers
