Laboratories of Democracy, Part 2: Can Congress learn from State Legislatures?

Article I Initiative

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The concept of states serving as important test cases for national governance dates to the founding of the country. In part 2 of our series, this panel will discuss how lessons from how different state legislatures operate today could be incorporated to increase the effectiveness of our federal legislature. The panel will begin with a presentation on a study from the Center for Legislative Strengthening at the National Conference of State Legislatures which examines the structures and procedures that have allowed some state legislatures to avoid partisan gridlock.

Featuring: 

  • Hon. Robert Hurt, Vice President and Director, Center for Law and Government at Liberty University; Former Congressman, Virginia's 5th District
  • Karl Kurtz, Principal, Legis Matters; Coauthor, Republic on Trial: The Case for Representative Democracy
  • Introduction: William Hild, III, Deputy Director, Article I Initiative and Deputy Director, Regulatory Transparency Project, The Federalist Society

As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.