Why Congress was so unproductive last year

+ rural white Americans' dimming views on politics US Edition - Today's top story: Is this the least productive congress ever? Yes, but it's not just because they're lazy [View in browser]( US Edition | 4 April 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Voters send representatives to Congress to do the people’s business, from passing budgets to making policy to declaring war. If it seems like Congress has been slacking off its duties lately, that may be because, as political scientist Charlie Hunt writes, “In 2023, Congress only passed 34 bills into law, [the lowest number in decades](.” He adds, “Congress was only recently able to pass a budget bill that will keep the government open until the fall of 2024 after months of delay and stopgap measures.” But Hunt, a congressional expert at Boise State University, says that measuring legislative productivity by counting bills passed is a bad idea. “This is a simplistic approach because it treats all bills as equally important regardless of substance,” Hunt writes. “Some bills that become law are purely ceremonial; for example, they rename Veterans Affairs facilities or mint commemorative coins.” And if you’re tired of reading, Hunt’s got a [nifty video he made covering what’s in the story](. It’s all part of his monthly series of stories [busting some of the common myths]( about politics and Congress. Also in this week’s politics news: - [Military personnel swear oath to the Constitution, not politicians]( - [Trump’s lawyers would not fare well in my constitutional law class]( - [Could citizen oversight panels improve government regulation?]( Naomi Schalit Senior Editor, Politics + Democracy Today's newsletter supported by [readers like you.]( The 118th Congress put in a lot of late nights, but it doesn’t have a lot to show for it. Glow Images/Getty Images [Is this the least productive congress ever? Yes, but it’s not just because they’re lazy]( Charlie Hunt, Boise State University If you hear the 118th Congress described as a bunch of slackers, you’re not getting the whole story. Some white Americans are showing signs of disagreeing with key democratic principles. Carol Yepes/Moment via Getty Images [Why rural white Americans’ resentment is a threat to democracy]( Thomas F. Schaller, University of Maryland, Baltimore County Rural white people have long held disproportionate power in US politics. But polls suggest their commitments to the American political system are eroding. A woman speaks during a candlelight vigil for 16-year-old nonbinary student Nex Benedict on Feb. 24, 2024, in Oklahoma City. J Pat Carter/Getty Images [Nex Benedict’s suicide coincides with a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ laws – and some people’s misunderstanding about transgender and nonbinary individuals]( Marie-Amelie George, Wake Forest University As states and local school boards in some places continue to pass anti-LGBTQ+ rights legislation and policies, hate crimes against young LGBTQ+ people have also increased. [Alabama court’s ruling that embryos are children opens up a host of other legal issues, including parental rights]( Dara E. Purvis, Penn State In the past, when courts considered disputes over what to do with no-longer-wanted embryos, they typically considered them property. The Alabama ruling challenges this legal precedent. [A new US-run pier off Gaza could help deliver 2 million meals a day – but it comes with security risks]( Tara Sonenshine, Tufts University This isn’t the first time the US military has turned to building a pier to help reach people during times of war or other crises. [Military personnel swear allegiance to the Constitution and serve the American people – not one leader or party]( Joseph G. Amoroso, United States Military Academy West Point; Lee Robinson, United States Military Academy West Point Members of the military take an oath before service, but it’s to the Constitution, not a specific person. West Point professors explain how young officers learn the importance of their allegiance. [How Trump’s lawyers would fail my constitutional law class with their Supreme Court brief on criminal immunity]( Wayne Unger, Quinnipiac University Donald Trump claims support in crucial court cases and historical documents for his assertion that presidents are immune from criminal prosecution. A law scholar says those documents say the opposite. - [Israeli strike on World Central Kitchen aid convoy shows growing danger of humanitarian work in conflict zones]( Elizabeth Stites, Tufts University Aid workers used to be considered off-limits in conflicts. The deaths of 7 aid workers in Gaza show that’s not the case anymore. Attacks on aid workers are on the rise. - [The amazing story of the man who created the latest narco-state in the Americas, and how the United States helped him every step of the way − until now]( Jorge Heine, Boston University Washington looked the other way as coup leaders and drugs cartels conspired to turn Honduras into a center of the cocaine trade. - [‘Fake news’ legislation risks doing more harm than good amid a record number of elections in 2024]( Samuel Jens, Stony Brook University (The State University of New York) Vague definitions and heavy penalties mean that legislation could be used to stifle a free press. - [Would you sit on a jury to review government regulations? Citizen oversight panels could make this process more open and democratic]( Samuel Bagg, University of South Carolina People love to hate bureaucracy, but regulatory agencies play key roles in modern society. Conservatives want to cut back their power, but a political scientist proposes a different option. - [Who are today’s climate activists? Dispelling 3 big myths for Earth Month]( Dana R. Fisher, American University Not all activists are in the media spotlight, but they’re crucial to promoting action to slow climate change. - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Giving Today]( • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Follow us on social media: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( • [Instagram]( • [Facebook]( • Or [get a daily text from us]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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