We have seen H.R. 10 start as an idea, become introduced as legislation, pass through the committee and floor consideration process of the House, pass through the same process in the Senate, go through a conference committee, receive the final approval of the House and Senate, and then become public law. It has been an arduous process -- one which only a small percentage of legislation will circumnavigate.
In part, the many hurdles of the legislative process serve to assure that only legislation which receives careful consideration has a chance of becoming law. However, they also present proponents and opponents of legislation with a myriad of opportunities to influence the outcome of the legislative process. Cynics often complain that it is the special interests that are able to manipulate this process to their advantage -- and to the disadvantage of the general interest. But ours is a nation of special interests. James Madison, the principal architect of our Constitution, understood this fact and helped to design the legislative process so that the voices of the special interests could be melded into policies which benefited the national interest.
That there have been many examples of special interest legislation which have not benefited the national interest neither proves Madison wrong or that our system of law-making does not work. It simply is as imperfect as the human beings we elect to represent us. Congress responds best to those who understand how it operates and make use of that knowledge to make their voices heard. It can be hoped that this handbook will contribute to spreading that knowledge and encouraging more voices to be raised.
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For more information about How Congress Works, and the companion manual |
