No Labels Hopes Changes to Political Rules Will Break the Gridlock

Impact

At the start of every Congress, the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on Rules review the guidelines governing the conduct of business in their respective house.  Any rule not changed is carried over. 

No Labels, a non-partisan grass roots organization of over 500,000 individuals, believes certain changes to the rules can effectively break the partisan gridlock and return Congress to its primary purpose of governing.

Which of these proposed rule changes do you agree or disagree with and why?

Up or Down Vote on Presidential Appointments: All presidential nominations should be confirmed or rejected within 90 days of the nomination.

 

Fix the Filibuster: Require real (not virtual) filibusters and end filibusters on motions to proceed.

Empower the Sensible Majority: Allow a bipartisan majority of members to override a leader or committee chair’s refusal to bring a bill to the floor.

Make Members Come to Work: Make Congress work on coordinated schedules with three five-day work weeks a month in DC and one week in their home district.

Question Time for the President: Provide a monthly forum for members of Congress to ask the president questions to force leaders to debate one another and defend their ideas.

Fiscal Report to Congress: Hear it. Read it. Sign it. A nonpartisan leader should deliver an annual, televised fiscal update in-person to a joint session of Congress to ensure everyone is working off the same facts.

No Pledge but the Oath of Office: Members should make no pledge but the pledge of allegiance and their formal oath of office.

Monthly Bipartisan Gatherings: The House and Senate should institute monthly, off-the-record and bipartisan gatherings to get members talking across party lines.

Bipartisan Seating: At all joint meetings or sessions of Congress, each member should be seated next to at least one member of the other party.

Bipartisan Leadership Committee: Congressional party leaders should form a bipartisan congressional leadership committee to discuss legislative agendas and substantive solutions.

No Negative Campaign Against Incumbents: Incumbents from one party should not conduct negative campaigns against sitting members of the opposing party.