How Legislative Office Structure Creates Bad Politics
Drawing on Jennifer Pahlka’s insights, the post explores how Congressional office structures sideline constituent-facing staff, why that weakens policymaking, and how rethinking culture, training, and tools can elevate constituent input.
Inside the 50th Anniversary of NCSL: Lessons From the States
POPVOX Foundation’s Anne Meeker and Sirena Harrop reflect on AI, capacity gaps, and takeaways from Boston’s record-setting 50th anniversary summit of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).
5th Circuit Clears the Path for Congressional Emergency Planning
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has clarified that Congress’ quorum requirement does not demand physical presence, upholding proxy voting and affirming Congress’ constitutional flexibility to operate during emergencies. The decision paves the way for stronger continuity planning and modern remote participation systems to ensure legislative function in future crises.
Who Holds the Gavel?
This edition explores the evolving role of parliamentary speakers worldwide, drawing on new Inter-Parliamentary Union data to profile today’s leaders. From Brazil’s leadership standoff to Syria’s upcoming elections, we also highlight global legislative modernization, plus fresh research tools, historic discoveries, and upcoming democracy-focused events.
POPVOX Foundation Launches “AI Summer Camp” for Congressional Staff
POPVOX Foundation’s AI Summer Camp aims to encourage Members of Congress and their staff to dedicate meaningful time to explore use cases of institutionally approved LLMs. The project addresses the gap between Congressional offices' curiosity about the benefits and risks of using AI capabilities and the practical challenge of finding time to explore this emerging technology while having fun along the way.
Meaningful Knowledge: Constituent Engagement as Qualitative Research
In this conversation with Chelsea Mauldin, Executive Director of the Public Policy Lab, we explore constituent engagement as a form of qualitative research. From “shower thoughts” to structural change, we discuss how local interactions can inform better policymaking, elevate the role of district staff, and shift how we think about data in democracy.
What does the One Big Beautiful Bill Act mean for casework?
Buried in headlines about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act? You’re not alone. The latest Casework Navigator cuts through the noise to break down what actually matters for casework.
What's the Future of Casework? (Podcast)
How do constituent services currently operate? What are the lines of communication between constituents, elected officials, and government agencies? What would casework look like under proportional representation?
POPVOX Foundation Deputy Director Anne Meeker joins Lee Drutman on the Politics in Question podcast to discuss this and more.
New Resources on AI-Adoption Change Management, Congressional Office AI Use Policies, and Creating Custom GPTs for the Legislative Workforce
New resources designed specifically to help House and Senate chiefs of staff and their teams navigate the responsible adoption of generative AI (GenAI) tools in their daily work.
ModParl: The Africa Edition
A long overdue spotlight on Africa, highlighting legislative innovation, institutional reform, and how parliaments across the continent are embracing technology, collaboration, and new ways of serving constituents.
Keeping the TX, NM, and CA delegations in our thoughts
We’re keeping the TX, NM, and CA delegations in our thoughts amid disasters, sharing updates on caseworker resources and our upcoming break, and asking for your feedback on this newsletter. Plus: a new webinar on consumer casework and key agency updates.
POPVOX Foundation Key Priorities Included in FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill
The FY 2026 House Legislative Branch Appropriations bill includes key report language backed by POPVOX Foundation, advancing Congressional modernization and support for caseworkers. Wins include expanding the CRS liaison directory, continued development of the Case Compass project, improved data mapping, and institutional training on AI.
World Parliament Day: Why I Love the Legislative Branch
Celebrate World Parliament Day with some reflections from our Senior Fellow Beatriz Rey on how Congress became her window into human possibility and political imagination!
Caseworkers and Field Reps Take DC
The latest Casework Navigator newsletter includes a recap of our Closing the Feedback Loop Through Casework event, a casework-related hearings roundup, and a ton of casework news and agency updates (especially ICE).
The Hill: A year after Loper Bright, Congress has failed to step up (Op-Ed)
One year after the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision ended judicial deference to federal agencies, Congress has yet to step up to its constitutional responsibilities. Instead of investing in the expertise and infrastructure needed to legislate effectively, Congress is defunding the very institutions that support it—at a time when precision lawmaking and AI-era governance demand more, not less.
When disaster strikes, your local congressional office can help
During disasters, help from federal agencies can be critical—and local congressional staff are key to making that happen. In a conversation with Federal News Network, Deputy Director Anne Meeker, a former caseworker, highlights the unique challenges these caseworkers face.
Insights from Athens and Lisbon on Upgrading Parliaments in a Digital World
From Athens to Lisbon, this month’s Modern Parliament captures how legislatures are reimagining democracy for the digital age. Highlights include insights from the 4th Global Conference on Parliamentary Studies, Portugal’s democratic innovation map, and global examples of AI, citizen engagement, and research-policy integration reshaping how parliaments work.
Six institutional wins to mark six months of the 119th Congress
We mark six months of the 119th Congress with six overlooked institutional wins—from expanded staff benefits to GenAI pilots and infrastructure upgrades. This edition highlights how small, intentional improvements are modernizing legislative operations and building a more resilient Congress.
The Case for Casework
Casework strengthens Congressional oversight, builds constituent trust, and supports a more resilient institution. POPVOX Foundation Deputy Director Anne Meeker, a former caseworker, outlines strategies to support caseworkers, modernize tools, and turn constituent insights into actionable policy.
Political Violence Threatens the Continuity of Congress
For Congressional staffers, security is an ongoing concern. The issue hit especially close to home following a politically motivated and deadly attack against two Minnesota House Members and their families. These conversations also speak to a larger issue for the Legislative branch, highlighting the real need for better continuity planning in the event of an emergency.