The American Governance Institute has drafted a set of proposed rules changes for the House of Representatives in the 120th Congress. These proposals are designed to give members greater opportunities and incentives to govern while improving the effectiveness of majority leadership in driving the party’s agenda.

Achieving balance between the need of the majority to govern, the ability of the parties to pursue their political agendas, and duty of members to represent constituents is at the center of these proposals. Balance is achieved by distributing power for different purposes throughout the chamber. Our proposals retain leadership management of the legislative process, but allow bipartisan majorities a route around that control when it is a roadblock. It restores committees’ roles in developing legislation and members’ capacity to form productive factions that can work out policy differences within the parties and develop bipartisan coalitions where common ground exists.

A short explainer for these proposals is at this link.

Our full proposals with explanatory text is at this link.

AGI also has developed a set of detailed rules reform suggestions with the Foundation for American Innovation and Ready State Labs. The recommendations reflect extensive conversations with congressional practitioners and institutional experts about reforms that could strengthen the House’s capacity to perform its
constitutional responsibilities.

They are compiled in “Renovating the People’s House: Rules Reforms for the 120th Congress,” which provides specific recommendations and relevant backgrounds designed to support implementation by the House in January.