Bills of Congress by U.S. Congress

H.R.95 - One Bill, One Subject Transparency Act (119th Congress)

Summary

H.R. 95, the "One Bill, One Subject Transparency Act," aims to ensure that each bill enacted by Congress addresses only one subject. The bill mandates that the subject of each bill be clearly stated in its title and prohibits appropriations bills from containing general legislation unrelated to the underlying subject matter. It also provides legal recourse for those aggrieved by laws that do not comply with these requirements.

Expected Effects

The primary effect of this bill would be to limit the scope of individual pieces of legislation. This could lead to more focused debates and potentially more accountability in the legislative process. It may also increase the number of bills that Congress needs to consider.

Potential Benefits

  • Increased transparency in the legislative process.
  • More focused and understandable legislation.
  • Greater accountability for lawmakers.
  • Reduced likelihood of unrelated provisions being attached to bills.
  • Potential for more efficient legislative debates.

Potential Disadvantages

  • Potential for increased legislative gridlock due to the need for more individual bills.
  • Possible challenges in defining what constitutes a single "subject".
  • Risk of unintended consequences from overly narrow legislation.
  • Potential for increased litigation to enforce the act.
  • Could slow down the legislative process.

Constitutional Alignment

The bill aligns with the spirit of Article I, Section 7 of the US Constitution, which outlines the legislative process. By promoting clarity and focus in legislation, it could be argued that the bill supports the principle of informed consent by both lawmakers and the public. The enforcement mechanism, allowing legal action against non-compliant acts, raises potential questions regarding the separation of powers, but the bill attempts to address this by specifying the standard of review and limiting the cause of action to laws enacted after the bill's passage.

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).