Enter Your Information Below To Receive Free Trading Ideas, Latest News And Articles.
Your information is secure and your privacy is protected. By opting in you agree to receive emails from us. Remember that you can opt-out any time, we hate spam too!
When it comes to the House of Representatives, the tyranny of the extreme minority is a reality. Under current House rules, while all members of the House technically have an equal say, a small handful of members are able to effectively control the agenda and dictate what legislation is debated and moved forward, often at the cost of the majority of representatives.
These minority members are usually the leadership of the House, including the Speaker of the House and the Majority and Minority Leaders. Unlike other representatives, the leadership is able to effectively control the agenda, coordinating efforts to introduce and pass favored legislation and create rules that make it easier for them to do so. They are particularly successful at using House traditions such as the “motion to recommit,” which allows a minority of the House to block a bill from coming to the floor, to prevent legislation from being discussed.
This reality leaves the majority of the House with little say in the legislative process. The tyranny of the extreme minority also leads to a lack of bipartisanship, as members of the minority are rarely able to secure the support needed to pass legislation. As a result, bills that originate from the minority are often blocked or held up in Congress, leading to a cycle of stagnation.
The issue of the tyranny of the extreme minority can be solved by instituting reforms that make it easier for the majority of representatives to pass legislation. The use of open rules, which allow for amendments and debate, can allow for a more deliberative and inclusive process. In addition, the institution of term limits and other structural changes can limit the power of the leadership and ensure that the majority of representatives are heard. These reforms can reduce the power of the extreme minority and make the House more representative of the people it serves.