Reimagining Parliament Through Foresight
How can parliaments think beyond short electoral cycles? This post examines policy foresight efforts such as the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System, Finland’s Committee for the Future, and Estonia’s Foresight Centre, showing how scenario planning and AI-supported analysis help legislatures prepare for long-term change.
One Stamp Every 40 months
An interview with Heather Nelson, founder of Poll the Vote, on building a civic tech platform that connects voters, candidates, and elected officials beyond election day. The conversation explores campaign spending, constituent communication gaps, data privacy, and how local innovation in Nebraska is reshaping voter engagement and legislative feedback.
The Call to Create the Congressional Capacity and Technology Office
As AI rapidly reshapes governance, Congress risks falling behind the institutions it oversees. POPVOX Foundation proposes creating the Congressional Capacity and Technology Office (C-TECH) to provide dedicated training, change management, and strategic tech support — strengthening Congress’s ability to oversee emerging technology effectively.
How would YOU fund the government?
From DHS funding lapses and immigration appeals changes to new VA disability rules and IRS filing season challenges, we unpack what appropriations season means for Congressional caseworkers.
From Citizen Ideas to Bills
Brazil’s Senate is advancing digital democracy with a new AI tool that links citizen ideas directly to bill drafting. Public suggestions can now inform legislation even without meeting endorsement thresholds, and the system has already contributed to a bill on protections for children of domestic violence victims.
AI Resources for MPs and Parliament Staff
AI is already changing how parliaments operate, and MPs and staff need practical, responsible guidance. Drawing on global legislative use cases, this post introduces AI resources designed for parliamentary offices, including policy templates, research workflows, and custom AI tools. Built for busy legislatures, these guides help boost capacity, support smart adoption, and keep human accountability at the center of parliamentary work.
When Law Becomes Data: What Brazil’s LexML Reveals About Akoma Ntoso
What Brazil’s LexML reveals about the future of structured law—and what Akoma Ntoso makes possible when legislation becomes interoperable data. A conversation with Monica Palmirani on digital standards, institutional silos, and why legal infrastructure matters in the age of AI.
The Best-kept Secret Federal Feedback Loop Model
The Taxpayer Advocate Service offers a rare, effective federal feedback loop that links taxpayer service requests to real improvements in IRS operations, Congressional oversight, and legislative reform. By turning individual cases into actionable data, TAS strengthens state capacity, accountability, and public trust — providing a proven model for modern constituent engagement and democratic governance.
Caseworkers Always Know the Good Stuff First
Frontline casework trends are tied to oversight, policy, and real-world impact. Practical insights, early warning signs, and real examples help turn constituent experiences into smarter oversight and better service.
Year One of the Digital Parliaments Project: What We Accomplished in 2025 and What's Ahead for 2026
One year after Caribbean parliamentarians identified a shared need to modernize legislative operations, the Digital Parliaments Project marks a key milestone. The first year saw the launch of ParlLink, an open-source, AI-enabled platform supporting legislative digitization and data standardization across partner parliaments. In 2026, the project will expand to new countries, introduce additional AI-powered tools, and strengthen a global community focused on practical parliamentary modernization.
If I Can Use AI at Work, You Can Too
A firsthand look at using AI in everyday Congressional work (without coding or technical expertise!) including practical examples, safety considerations, and why responsible AI adoption can help staff work smarter and keep pace with rapid change.
From Slip-Up to Solution: How AI Can Help Fix Lawmaking in Estonia
A single missing word in Estonia’s gambling tax law nearly made online casinos tax-free, exposing how fragile legislative drafting can be. The error also sparked fast civic innovation: a former government CIO built an AI tool in a day to scan draft bills for mistakes, showing how artificial intelligence can strengthen lawmaking, improve oversight, and help catch costly errors before they become policy.
Hang In There, Immigration Caseworkers
Practical guidance (and solidarity!) for immigration caseworkers navigating an especially demanding moment, alongside critical updates on SSA, IRS, FEMA, and other high-volume casework agencies. Plus, two upcoming trainings!
David vs. Goliath, But They're the Same Person
Campaigns spend billions reaching voters, while Congress has far fewer resources to engage constituents in its governing role. The widening gap between campaign outreach and official representation helps explain public distrust, uneven access to services, and why political contact so often feels transactional rather than civic.
Why Legislative Modernizers Need to Pay Attention to this New Wave of AI
Claude Opus 4.5, Claude Code, Gemini 3 Pro, and agentic AI introduce stronger reasoning, automation, and multimodal capabilities with direct relevance to legislative research, drafting, analytics, and internal systems. For legislative modernizers, the shift signals a move from experimentation to real operational use inside parliaments.
The Year of "and Innovation": What the House Modernization Report Reveals About Congress' Next Phase
An analysis of the House Subcommittee on Modernization and Innovation’s 2025 year-end report and what it signals about Congress’s next phase. The report highlights a shift toward transparency, realistic goal-setting, and new initiatives — from AI adoption to procurement reform — that will shape whether Congress can keep pace with technology and public expectations.
2026 is Off to a Running Start
Casework Navigator opens 2026 with key agency and policy updates shaping constituent casework. This issue highlights immigration and TPS changes, child care and benefits funding developments, federal workforce updates, notable casework results, and early signals on how AI is affecting casework operations.
POPVOX Foundation 2025: A Transformative Year
POPVOX Foundation’s 2025 year-in-review highlights a transformative year advancing AI-ready legislatures in the US and around the world — strengthening Congressional capacity, modernizing casework and data infrastructure, and building global partnerships to help democratic institutions keep pace with rapidly evolving technology.
Seasonal Greetings and a 2025 Recap
ModParl closes out 2025 with a practical example of AI in action, spotlighting Anguilla’s House of Assembly and its new AI-powered Hansard and legislative website. We also look back on a year of legislative modernization — from Europe to Africa and Asia.
Simply Having a Wonderful Congress-time
Wrapping up 2025 on Capitol Hill by highlighting a year of Congressional modernization, AI shaping the future of legislatures, new constituent service tools, and leadership transitions. Plus, holiday cheer, campus updates, and a look ahead to 2026’s big tech initiatives like the White House Genesis Mission and agentic AI at federal agencies.