Jay and Luke take a look at the formal structures and rules that govern Congress in the Constitution. Why does each Chamber get to set its own rules? What's the deal with judging qualifications? Why do we have a Speech and Debate Clause? Each of these provisions came to be in the constitution thanks to a rich combination of history, political theory, practical experience, and luck. Join the guys as they show how the Framers took the eclectic mixture of history and ideas outlined in the last episode and turned it into a set of concrete institutional rules and constraints.

Episode 66: The Constitutional Congress

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In this episode, Jay and Luke discuss procedures in the Senate. After giving a broad overview of how the institution works, they dig deep into the filibuster -- how it works, why it works, and some surprising answers as to whom it benefits.

Episode 77: Filibuster

In this episode of Constitutionally Speaking, Luke and Jay continue their explanation of Congress, this time looking at the party structure in the House of Representatives. After Jay offers some broad considerations about the function and structure of the parties, Luke takes a deep dive into how the majority party (right now, the Democrats) actually work in the House.

Episode 76: House Party!

In this episode of Constitutionally Speaking, Jay and Luke discuss the role of committees in Congress. Committees are the workhorses of Congress, where the real legislating happens. The guys evaluate different theories of committee organization, and Luke makes the case that their flexibility makes them still useful in the era of omnibus legislating.

Episode 75: Congressional Committees

Luke interviews Jay about his new book, ‘James Madison: America’s First Politician,’ which is out on November 9th.

Episode 74: Jay’s New Book!

In this week’s episode, Jay and Luke examine what makes members of Congress tick. The answer: paranoia. Specifically, the all-abiding fear that they might lose reelection. The congressional drive toward reelection frames their entire career in Congress, especially how they interact with their constituents back home. It determines how they view their districts and how they communicate with it. Those who are good at this job tend to win reelection. Those who don’t, don’t.

Episode 66: The Constitutional Congress

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