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• Should Democrats Worry About President Obama’s Declining Approval Ratings?

  Fri, 04 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  Although President Obama’s approval ratings are declining, there is nothing inexorable about this drop or the larger swing against him among Independents, writes Thomas Mann. However, if the economic downturn persists a year from now and President Obama’s approval ratings have sunk well below 50 percent, Mann predicts, Democrats are likely to lose 20 or more seats in the House and a few in the Senate.

• Whose Stimulus: President Obama’s or the Democratic Congress’?

  Fri, 07 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  Many conservative commentators including, Michael Gerson, disdain President Obama’s stimulus bill and have trumpeted its alleged shortcomings. However, the accuracy of these criticisms is far from self-evident; it will be assessed by analysts in the months and years ahead as the bill’s funds are expended and evidence becomes available on their impact on the micro and macro-economy, writes Thomas Mann.

• Prospects for Immigration Reform in the New Political Climate

  Sat, 18 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  
  New federal policies on immigration will require a new narrative, bold and innovative ideas and a determination to overcome major obstacles to action. Darrell West and Thomas Mann offer a forecast for immigration reform in the new political climate as the nation’s growing Latino factor and some recent shifts in immigration positions suggest that forging a new policy is possible. However, the topic still evokes economic, social, political and cultural obstacles that must be overcome if congressional reform is going to effective.

• Preserving Our Institutions: The Continuity of the Presidency

  Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  A new report by the AEI-Brookings Continuity of Government Commission examines vulnerabilities in the U.S. presidential succession. It has long been assumed that prospects for a smooth transfer of presidential power in the event of a terrorist attack are assured, as there is already a clear line of succession to the nation's highest office. However, as the report's authors point out, the existing presidential succession could be rendered useless by a catastrophic attack because everyone in line to succeed the president lives and works in Washington, D.C.

• From Campaigning to Governing: Politics and Policymaking in the New Obama Administration

  Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  Since taking the oath of office, President Barack Obama has faced a daunting set of immediate policy challenges and has had high expectations for significant changes in politics and policymaking. Nearing President Obama's first hundred days in office, Thomas Mann assesses his achievements and setbacks in a lecture given to the University of Melbourne Law School.

• Truth and Reconciliation: Sidestepping the Filibuster

  Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  President Obama and most Democrats in Congress hope to include health and education reform in reconciliation instructions as part of the budget process. Republicans are outraged by what they argue is an egregious partisan power grab, one that tramples on Senate rules permitting extended debate and amendment. Thomas Mann, Norman Ornstein and Molly Reynolds examine the use of reconciliation bills in Congress and say that it is perfectly reasonable for Democrats to use the process.

• New President's Economic Plan Faces Numerous Congressional Hurdles

  Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  President-elect Barack Obama's economic recovery plan may face significant resistance in Congress. Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein joined Margaret Warner on the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer to discuss the hurdles the Obama proposal will likely encounter as he pushes his agenda on Capitol Hill.

• Assessing the 110th Congress, Anticipating the 111th

  Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

  
  Sarah Binder, Thomas Mann, Norman Ornstein and Molly Reynolds look ahead to the 111th Congress and what it will take to overcome the shortcomings of the 110th. Although the previous Congress was able to achieve some policy successes, increase oversight of the executive and strengthen ethics standards and procedures, it was limited in its ability to overcome fully the realities of divided government, the ideological polarization of the parties and the institutional dynamics that have shaped Congress in recent years.

• Is It Possible to Fix Government? - A NewTalk discussion

  Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  Thomas Mann joined a distinguished panel, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York and Congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee, to address the problems within U.S. government and possible solutions. 

• The Importance of Election 2008

  Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  People's Daily correspondent Li Xuejiang spoke to Thomas Mann from Brookings and Brian Darling from the Heritage Foundation about the 2008 general election and how it has drawn a great deal attention around the world.

• The End Game in the Democratic Presidential Nominating Contest

  Thu, 29 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  
  The Rules and Bylaws Committee of the Democratic National Committee met in Washington on May 31 to respond to petitions filed by Florida and Michigan Democrats to seat their delegations sanctioned for violating the timing provisions of party rules. Thomas Mann wrote about the option to seat those states' delegations but give them only half a vote each.

• A Review of Proposed Voluntary Voting System Guidelines

  Tue, 20 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  Election officials may be concerned about the security and accuracy of their systems in the short-term, but the EAC has been considering new guidelines that will affect voting systems far into the future. A task force of the Election Reform Project issued a set of recommendations on improving these guidelines.

• Congressional Corruption: Reforming the Broken Branch

  Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  Thomas Mann and Lawrence Lessig of Stanford Law School appeared on Bloggingheads.tv to discuss ways to restore public trust in Congress, and its failure to engage in responsible and deliberative lawmaking, to police the ethical behavior of its members, and to check and balance the executive.

• Michigan and Florida Recount Controversy

  Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  
  Calling for a revote of the Democratic primary elections in Michigan and Florida seems like a perfectly reasonable proposal, writes Thomas Mann, but the costs of revotes would outweigh the benefits.

• Delegates of Steel: Why Superdelegates Should Be Welcomed, Not Feared

  Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  
  The Democratic presidential nomination battle is virtually dead even between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, write Brookings Senior Fellow Tom Mann and AEI's Norman Ornstein. The key to victory is in the 796 votes given to superdelegates, the elected and party officials.

• One Year Later: Is Congress Still the Broken Branch?

  Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  Thomas Mann and Sarah Binder conclude that in the 110th Congress, members are working harder, ethics regulations are tougher and a modest legislative harvest is being reaped. But, they warn, the venomous partisan atmosphere remains.

• Could Congress Be Waking Up?

  Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

  
  Amid the clamor of the presidential campaign, it’s easy to forget that all 435 House seats and 35 of the Senate’s seats are up for election this year, too. So how should Congress under its new Democratic leadership be judged? In this New York Times opinion, Brookings Thomas Mann states that 110th Congress deserve some praise.

• The Iowa Caucuses

  Fri, 04 Jan 2008 13:00:28 GMT

  The day after the Iowa caucuses, Thomas Mann discusses what happened in both the Republican and Democratic contests and looks ahead to the upcoming presidential primaries.

• Federal Budget Battles

  Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Efforts to pass a massive compromise federal spending bill collapsed Monday. Brookings senior fellow Thomas E. Mann appeared on The Diane Rehm show with Brian Riedl of the Heritage Foundation and Philip Joyce of George Washington University to discuss federal budget battles.

• Is the Broken Branch on the Mend? An Early Report on the 110th Congress

  Tue, 04 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  The failure of Congress to fulfill its responsibilities as the first branch of government—to engage in responsible and deliberative lawmaking, to police the ethical behavior of its members, and to check and balance the executive—contributed to the demise of the Republican majority in last November's midterm election.

• A New, Improved Congress?

  Sun, 26 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  
  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Molly Reynolds; The New York Times (8/26/07)

• Is Congress on the Mend?

  Sat, 28 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  
  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Molly Reynolds, The New York Times (4/28/07)

• An Independent Entity for the House Ethics Process?

  Thu, 19 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, House Task Force on Ethics Enforcement (4/19/07)

• Repealing the Limitation on Party Expenditures on Behalf of Candidates in General Elections

  Wed, 18 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (4/18/07)

• Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act: Success or Failure?

  Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, The Campaign Legal Center (4/10/07)

• Iraq Deadline and the Democratic Congress

  Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview by Thomas E. Mann, NPR's All Things Considered (3/23/07)

• The Hill is Alive With the Sound of Hearings

  Wed, 21 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein, Foreign Affairs (3/21/07)

• Electronic Filing of Senate Campaign Finance Reports

  Wed, 14 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration (3/14/07)

• The Senate Approach to Lobbying Reform

  Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann; House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (3/1/07)

• Steps to Repair the ""Broken Branch""

  Fri, 01 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein; The Philadelphia Inquirer (12/1/06)

• New Senate Leaders Prepare for Next Term

  Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein; NewsHour with Jim Lehrer (11/14/06)

• When Congress Checks Out

  Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein; Foreign Affairs (November/December 2006)

• An Online Discussion of the 2006 Congressional Midterm Elections

  Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Online Chat with Thomas E. Mann; U.S. Department of State (11/1/06)

• Restoring Order: Practical Solutions to Congressional Dysfunction

  Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Report from Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein; The Reform Institute (11/16/2005)

• Congress Approval Rating Slides to Lowest Point in 14 Years

  Wed, 18 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann and Andrew Kohut; NewHour with Jim Lehrer (10/18/06)

• Congress as 'The Broken Branch'

  Wed, 11 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein; The Washington Post (10/11/06)

• Our Pathetic Congress: Little Has Been Done in the Final Days of Congress

  Wed, 27 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein; Los Angeles Times (9/26/06)

• Outlook: Bright Prospects for the Democrats in November Midterm Elections?

  Mon, 17 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Online Chat with Thomas E. Mann; Washingtonpost.com (7/17/06)

• November Midterm Elections: For Democrats, Wave Is Building

  Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann; The Washington Post (7/16/06)

• The Broken Branch: Problems Plaguing Our Legislative Branch

  Fri, 14 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein

• The Threat of Bush's Signing Statements

  Fri, 07 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein; The San Diego Union-Tribune

• How to Think About the November 2006 Congressional Elections

  Sat, 01 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  
  In this Issues in Governance Studies paper, Thomas Mann examine the November 2006 congressional elections.

• The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track

  Tue, 27 Jun 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Article by Thomas E. Mann and Norman Ornstein; Roll Call (6/27/06)

• Lobbying Reform: Accountability through Transparency

  Thu, 02 Mar 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, House Committee on Rules (3/2/06)

• Lobby Reform

  Mon, 23 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann; The Diane Rehm Show (1/23/06)

• Implications of the Abramoff Scandal: What Should Congress Do Now?

  Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Speech by Thomas E. Mann at the Cneter for American Progress; C-SPAN (1/20/06)

• Lobbying Reform: If You Give a Congressman a Cookie

  Thu, 19 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Norman Ornstein and Thomas E. Mann; The New York Times (01/19/06)

• Texas Congressional Redistricting

  Fri, 16 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann, The Diane Rehm Show (12/15/05)

• Party Lines : Competition, Partisanship, and Congressional Redistricting

  Tue, 15 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  
  In Party Lines, eminent political analysts explain the legal and political history of redistricting since the one person–one vote revolution in the 1960s and place it in the larger context of American politics. The authors document the impact

• For Election Reform, a Heartening Defeat

  Fri, 11 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Sam Hirsch and Thomas E. Mann ; The New York Times (11/11/05)

• Harriet Miers Nomination

  Mon, 10 Oct 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann; The Diane Rehm Show (10/10/05)

• Redistricting Reform

  Wed, 01 Jun 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Article by Thomas E. Mann; The National Voter (6/1/05)

• The Senate Judicial Compromise

  Tue, 24 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann; The Diane Rehm Show (5/24/05)

• Reining in a Runaway Federal Judiciary?

  Wed, 04 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann and Alan Murphy; Brookings Website (5/4/05)

• DeLay Will Go; Damage Could Remain

  Wed, 27 Apr 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann; Newsday (4/27/05)

• The Schiavo Case

  Wed, 23 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann; The Diane Rehm Show (3/23/05)

• Game On: How Democrats Should Respond to Bush's Campaign to Reform Social Security

  Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann; The New Republic Online (3/18/05)

• Why the President's Speech Is Important

  Wed, 02 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann, Voice of America (2/2/2005)

• Congress: No Surrender

  Sun, 07 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, The Boston Globe (11/7/2004)

• Congressional Races

  Wed, 27 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann, The Diane Rehm Show (10/27/04)

• Third Presidential Debate Analysis

  Thu, 14 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann

• Second Presidential Debate Analysis

  Mon, 11 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann

• The 2004 Presidential Debates

  Mon, 27 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann (9/27/2004)

• Campaigning and Governing: The 2004 Elections and Their Aftermath

  Mon, 13 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Lecture by Thomas Mann presented at Juniata College

• Despite Predictions, BCRA Has Not Been a Democratic 'Suicide Bill'

  Mon, 26 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Anthony Corrado and Thomas E. Mann, Roll Call (7/26/04)

• Presidential Candidates: Where Do They Stand?

  Mon, 26 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Sarah Binder, Thomas E. Mann, and Alan Murphy, The New York Times (7/26/04)

• Historical Present

  Thu, 24 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, The New Republic Online (6/24/04)

• Reagan, Bush, and the 2004 Election

  Wed, 09 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, The Brookings Institution (6/9/04)

• Super Tuesday Wrap Up

  Wed, 03 Mar 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann, The Diane Rehm Show (3/3/04)

• The Wisconsin Primary

  Wed, 18 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann, NPR's The Diane Rehm Show (2/18/04)

• Bush's Boldness Has Cost America

  Mon, 05 Jan 2004 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Australian Financial Review (1/5/04)

• The Continuity of Congress: Special Elections in Extraordinary Circumstances

  Wed, 24 Sep 2003 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, Committee on House Administration (9/24/03)

• Court Faces Stark Choice on McCain-Feingold

  Tue, 16 Sep 2003 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann (9/16/03)

• Polling & Public Opinion: The good, the bad, and the ugly

  Sun, 01 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT

  Introduction to an edition of the Brookings Review that focuses on polling, public opinion, and politics.

• A New Permanent Standing Committee on Homeland Security?

  Mon, 19 May 2003 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, The Brookings Institution (5/19/03)

• A District Court Panel Rules on Campaign Finance: What Does the Decision Mean?

  Mon, 05 May 2003 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, The Brookings Institution (5/05/03)

• Preserving Our Institutions: The First Report of the Continuity of Government Commission

  Thu, 01 May 2003 00:00:00 GMT

  Report by the Continuity of Government Commission, American Enterprise Institute and Brookings Institution (Released 6/04/03)

• Estrada Caught In 'Poisonous' War Based on Ideology

  Wed, 05 Mar 2003 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Roll Call, (3/05/03)

• Brookings Scholar Examines Dynamics of Congress's Relationship with President Bush

  Wed, 11 Dec 2002 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview with Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, the Brookings Institution, in The Hill, December 11, 2002

• Political Parties Now Facing 'Tough Love'

  Sun, 10 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, the Brookings Institution, in the Boston Globe, November 10, 2002

• The 2002 U.S. Midterm Elections

  Mon, 04 Nov 2002 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, the Brookings Institution, in Wprost, November 4, 2002

• Election Reform: Six Principles Could Bridge Differences

  Mon, 18 Feb 2002 00:00:00 GMT

  Opininion by Thomas Mann, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution, and Michael Davidson, former Senate legal counsel

• Why a Presidential Dead Heat in 2000?: A Considered Opinion

  Sat, 01 Dec 2001 00:00:00 GMT

  Brookings Review article by Thomas E. Mann (Winter 2001)

• Senate Speculation: a Discussion of the Future of the U.S. Senate Seat from North Carolina

  Wed, 22 Aug 2001 00:00:00 GMT

  Interview by NPR's All Things Considered with Thomas Mann, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution, August 22, 2001

• Memo to Karen Hughes and Karl Rove

  Tue, 21 Aug 2001 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution, for the Brookings Website, August 21, 2001.

• The Bush Administration Hopes To Bolster Sagging Ratings By Waging A Permanent Campaign

  Tue, 17 Jul 2001 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow the Brookings Institution, July 17, 2001

• An Agenda for Election Reform

  Fri, 01 Jun 2001 00:00:00 GMT

  Policy Brief #82, by Thomas Mann, June 2001

• Look at Bush's Actions, Not His Words

  Thu, 25 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT

  Opinion by Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, The Brookings Institution in USA Today, January 25, 2001

• Reflections on the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election

  Mon, 01 Jan 2001 00:00:00 GMT

  Article by Thomas Mann, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution, in Politique Etrangere, January 2001

• Biennial Budgeting: A Tool for Improving Government Fiscal Management and Oversight

  Thu, 16 Mar 2000 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony of Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution, before the Committee on Rules; U.S. House of Representatives, March 16, 2000

• On Revising the Rules of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct

  Fri, 20 Jun 1997 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony of Thomas E. Mann before the Ethics Reform Task Force of the House of Representatives, June 20, 1997

• Limiting Terms of Office for Members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives

  Wed, 22 Jan 1997 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann before the Subcommittee on the Constitution Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. House of Representatives, January 22, 1997

• Biennial Budgeting Act of 1995

  Wed, 24 Jul 1996 00:00:00 GMT

  Testimony by Thomas E. Mann, Senior Fellow, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution, before the Committee on Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Financial Management and Accountability, U.S. Senate, July 24, 1996

• Institutional Reform Proposals

  Wed, 24 Jul 1996 00:00:00 GMT

  Statement by Thomas E. Mann, Director, Governmental Studies, the Brookings Institution, before the Committee on Rules Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House, Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, U.S. House of Representatives,

• Renewing Congress : A Second Report

  Mon, 21 Jun 1993 00:00:00 GMT

  
  This report is a revision and expansion of testimony to the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. It addresses the full agenda of the Joint Committee, including subcommittees, floor deliberations, and staffing in both the House and the Sen

• Renewing Congress : A First Report

  Thu, 19 Nov 1992 00:00:00 GMT

  
  This report focuses on substantive ways to improve Congress' performance as a legislative body. The recommendations are designed to strengthen the ability of the House to set an agenda and act upon it; increase the quality of deliberation and debate;