Senate Procedures

A record number of House and Senate members announced they won't seek reelection in 2026, with three sitting senators quitting to run for governor instead of staying in Washington. The unprecedented departures include Republicans fleeing Trump's demands for loyalty tests and Democrats exhausted by constant crisis management. Congressional staff report that lawmakers spend more time on fundraising and partisan warfare than actual governing, driving away serious legislators.

Follow legislation from introduction to passage. Process understanding for any multi-step approval system.

Understand what bills actually say beyond news headlines. Document analysis skill for any legal text.

Write and call your representatives about specific bills. Professional communication for influencing decisions.

Research how your representatives vote on different issues. Performance evaluation for any leader.

Follow what happens to bills in legislative committees. Process monitoring for any organizational decision-making.

Know when legislatures meet and vote on bills. Time management skill for planning advocacy efforts.