Opening the People’s House Resolution
Summary
H. Res. 865, the "Opening the People's House Resolution," proposes an amendment to the Rules of the House of Representatives. The resolution aims to establish a process for Members to call for an end to district work periods. This involves submitting a letter to the Clerk, making it a public record, and potentially terminating the work period if a majority of the House agrees.
Expected Effects
If passed, this resolution would give individual House members more power to shorten or eliminate district work periods. This could lead to more time spent in session and potentially faster legislative action. It also increases transparency by making public the names of members who want to end work periods.
Potential Benefits
- Increased accountability of representatives through public record of their stance on work periods.
- Potential for more efficient legislative processes by reducing time spent in district work periods.
- Greater responsiveness to urgent issues by allowing the House to reconvene more quickly.
- Enhanced transparency in House operations.
- Empowers individual members to influence the legislative calendar.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased political pressure on members to vote against their constituents' interests.
- Risk of decreased time for representatives to engage with their constituents during district work periods.
- Possibility of overburdening the legislative schedule with too frequent sessions.
- Could lead to decreased focus on local issues and needs.
- May create more opportunities for partisan gridlock.
Constitutional Alignment
This resolution primarily concerns the internal rules and procedures of the House of Representatives, as authorized by Article I, Section 5, Clause 2 of the U.S. Constitution, which states that "Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings." The resolution does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations. The requirement for a majority vote to end a district work period aligns with the principle of majority rule inherent in the Constitution.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).