Overview
Title
To prohibit a single bill or joint resolution presented by Congress to the President from containing multiple subjects and to require the equal application of laws to Members of Congress.
ELI5 AI
In this bill, Congress wants every law to be about just one thing, so everyone knows what it's for. They also want to make sure that the rules apply the same way to the people who make the laws and not let them have special treatment.
Summary AI
H.R. 157, also known as the "Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act" or the "CLEAN Congress Act," proposes two main changes. First, it requires that each bill or resolution presented to the President by Congress must focus on only one subject, which must be clearly reflected in its title. Second, it mandates that all laws apply equally to members of Congress and their staff without exceptions, although it allows them to carry out certain official duties necessary for their legislative roles.
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AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the “Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act,” or the "CLEAN Congress Act," aims to introduce two primary changes to congressional procedures. Firstly, it seeks to prohibit any bill or joint resolution sent from Congress to the President from containing more than one subject. This singular focus per legislative document is designed to promote clarity and transparency by ensuring each piece of legislation deals with only one clearly defined issue. Secondly, the bill mandates that all laws apply equally to Members of Congress and their staff, meaning that no special exceptions can be carved out for them, ensuring they are treated like any other citizen under the law.
Summary of Significant Issues
Despite its straightforward objectives, the bill presents several issues that merit attention. A significant concern is the lack of a clear definition for what constitutes a "subject" in the context of limiting bills to a single topic. This ambiguity could lead to considerable legal challenges and differing interpretations, potentially undermining the bill’s enforcement and effectiveness. Additionally, the bill does not establish a mechanism to enforce the one-subject rule, leading to concerns about how these provisions will be practically applied and monitored.
Another issue arises from the provision that eliminates special legal exceptions for Members of Congress. While this aims to create parity between lawmakers and the general public, there is a broad exception that allows Congress members to perform their official duties. The scope of this exception might need further clarification to prevent its potential misuse.
Public Impact
If enacted, the "CLEAN Congress Act" could have wide-reaching implications for how legislation is crafted and how laws are applied to elected officials. The one-subject rule could lead to more straightforward and transparent legislative processes, which might make it easier for the public to understand what their representatives are voting on. This transparency could enhance public trust in legislative operations by reducing instances of "logrolling," where unrelated provisions are combined to gain broader political support.
However, there could be practical challenges; the lack of a clear definition for "subject" might lead to disputes over what constitutes a single-issue bill. Additionally, in times of crisis, when rapid, multifaceted legislative responses are required, the one-subject limitation could hinder necessary government action.
Impact on Stakeholders
For Members of Congress, the bill's equal application of laws could signify a cultural shift by holding them to the same legal standards as the citizens they represent, potentially enhancing public perception of their accountability. However, without clear guidance, determining which laws truly require exemption for lawmaking purposes might occur in a trial-and-error manner that could complicate normal congressional operations.
For the general public, the bill could increase transparency, potentially leading to greater civic engagement and oversight. Voters might have a clearer understanding of where their representatives stand on specific issues without unrelated provisions clouding the legislative picture.
In conclusion, while the "CLEAN Congress Act" proposes changes intended to enhance legislative transparency and accountability, the absence of clear terms and enforcement measures presents challenges that will need careful deliberation to ensure these objectives are achieved effectively.
Issues
The definition of 'subject' in Section 2 is not clearly defined, which could lead to varied interpretations and legal challenges. This lack of clarity poses significant political and legal implications, as it may affect the enforceability and implementation of the bill's core provision.
Section 2 fails to specify any mechanisms for enforcing the limitation of one subject per bill. This absence could lead to ambiguities in the implementation and could be exploited to circumvent the bill's intent, raising both political and legal concerns.
Section 3 provides a general rule requiring the equal application of laws to Members of Congress without specific examples of laws that might be exempted, leading to ambiguity. This could result in ethical and legal issues concerning the transparency and applicability of laws to legislators.
The exception in Section 3(b) is broad and may require further clarification to prevent potential misuse under the guise of lawmaking activities. This broad exception could allow Congress members to exploit official duties provisions, raising ethical concerns.
The bill does not address potential exceptions or emergency situations that might require multiple subjects in a single bill, as noted in Section 2. This oversight could significantly impact how Congress addresses urgent or complex issues, posing political and legal challenges.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the act specifies its short title, which is the "Citizen Legislature Anti-Corruption Reform of Congress Act" or alternatively the "CLEAN Congress Act."
2. Prohibiting multiple subjects in single bill Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
Each law or resolution sent by Congress to the President can only cover one topic, and that topic has to be clearly stated in the title. This rule will start applying with the 119th Congress and continue in future sessions.
3. Requiring equal application of laws to Members of Congress Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section requires that laws apply equally to Members of Congress and their staff, without any special exceptions. However, it clarifies that this does not affect laws or rules allowing them to perform their official duties, such as working in the Capitol.