The legislative process is notoriously slow, but this is an intentional feature. The Constitution's structure creates a deliberative, messy process to ensure that laws with nationwide impact are not passed hastily. This "inefficiency" functions as a crucial check on power, forcing negotiation and preventing rapid, potentially harmful policy shifts.
The U.S. Constitution provides a basic framework, but actual lawmaking relies on unwritten rules. Newly elected representatives must proactively seek mentorship from senior members and staff to navigate this complex system effectively, as there is no formal, comprehensive guide for the intricate procedures of Congress.
A key cultural distinction for the House of Representatives is that its members can only gain a seat through an election, unlike Senators who can be appointed to fill vacancies. This fosters a deeply held belief among representatives that they are the "closest to the people" and uniquely accountable, a concept they refer to as "the people's house."
New members of Congress navigate complex policy and procedure with help from the Congressional Research Service (CRS). This arm of the Library of Congress acts as a non-partisan, in-house university, providing orientations and expert briefings on everything from tax policy jurisdiction to legislative history, ensuring lawmakers have substantive, unbiased knowledge.
Representative Sharice Davids highlights a fundamental conflict: House members operate on a two-year election cycle, yet major infrastructure projects require a decade or more of planning and execution. This misalignment forces a short-term political focus on issues that demand long-term, stable commitment, leading to inefficiency.
Representative Sharice Davids points out a common public misconception fueled by presidential rhetoric. Presidents often say "I passed this law," but their constitutional role is limited to signing or vetoing bills. The actual, complex work of drafting, negotiating, and passing legislation is the exclusive domain of Congress, a fact often obscured in political messaging.
Introducing legislation in Congress isn't always about immediate passage. Bills frequently function as messaging vehicles to build awareness and support for an idea over several congressional terms. This gradual process allows for the evolution of major policy, like the creation of new government agencies, which rarely happens in a single two-year cycle.
The legal battle over President Trump's tariffs and President Biden's student loan forgiveness both hinge on the "major questions doctrine." This Supreme Court principle asserts that if the executive branch exercises a power with vast economic and political impact based on ambiguous statutory language, the Court will rule against it, demanding explicit authorization from Congress.