Communications technology used by Congress is illegal

On a typical day, you cannot run the news without hearing someone says that Cutting Congress. The implicit meaning is that this specialization explains the reason for the existence of the institution Employed and unpopular For the American people.

There is one element that is often missing from that discussion: Congress confuses in a large part because its members cannot hear the American people, or even each other. I mean that literally. Congress employees in thousands of provincial offices serve all over the country, and their communication technology does not match most companies and even many homes.

The provincial offices have been connected to members only Wi-Fi is safe in 2023. The discussions between members and Congress employees were sometimes Cut in 40 minutes Because some government workers relied on the free version of enlargement, according to the Congress certificate in March 2024.

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Congress has not changed information systems for decades largely, while the world has witnessed the information revolution, and the integration of smartphones and the Internet into the daily personal and professional life of people. The techniques it has Modern life has turned And political campaigns It is not yet available to improve the ability of members of Congress to judge by just winning his position.

Slow adaptation

Like many institutions, Congress resists change; only Payed by Web Covid-19 To allow online listening sessions and invoice introductions. Before 2020, white panels, sticky notes and trained with aircraft dominated the Congress halls.

Electronic signatures He arrived in the Capitol Hill in 2021 – more than two decades after the congressional Esign Law To allow electronic signatures and records in trade.

The nation spends About 10 million dollars per year On the technological innovation in the House of Representatives – the institution that declares war and pays all bills of federal government laws. This is only 1 % of the amount spent by theater fans to see ‶Hamilton“In Broadway since 2015.

It seems that the story of American democracy is attractive to the public, but investing in making it work less for Congress itself.

the Senior Administrative Office in CongressNon -legislative employees who help manage Congress operations, decide the types of technology that members can use. these Internal rules It exists to protect Congress and national security, but this caution can also prevent new ways to use technology to better serve the audience.

Finding a happy broker can lead between innovation and caution A more vibrant public speech.

The update voltage

It was Congress Work to update itselfIncluding the experience of new ways to hear local voices in their areas, including Collect component reactions in Uniform It can be easily processed by computers.

The House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee was also an early adoption of technology for cooperative law. In 2020, the members and employees of the committee used a called a platform called Madison To write and amend the proposed cooperation Environmental justice legislation With societies throughout the country that was affected by pollution.

Home leaders also look at the so -called Trading technologyWho uses Specially designed web sites to Facilitate digital participation by Group of collective human intelligence with artificial intelligence. People publish their ideas online and respond to others’ posts. Then it is possible for systems Screen and summarize Participations even users The best understanding of each other’s views.

These systems can deal Huge group discussions Involving large numbers of people who hold A wide range of situations On a A wide range of issues and interests. In general, these technologies make it easy for people Find a consensus and Listen to their voices By politics makers in ways politics can understand and respond.

Governments in Finlandfor UKfor Canada and Brazil They already experience deliberative techniques. In Finland, nearly a third of young people participate between 12 and 17 years in determining the budget priorities Helsinki City.

In May 2024, 45 non -profit organizations signed US -based A message to Congress Request that Trading technology Platforms are included in the approved tools for civil participation.

Meanwhile, Congress looks at Ways to use artificial intelligence As part of more An integrated digital strategy Based on lessons from others Democratic legislative bodies.

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Finding benefits

Update efforts I opened contacts inside Congress and with the audience. For example, the listening sessions held by the video conference during the witnesses of witnesses to share experience with Congress from a distance and open an existing process. unknown. I was at home in the rural areas of New Mexico during the epidemic and knew three people who witnessed a distance Tribal educationfor Methane and Environmental damage From abandoned oil wells.

new Home rules It was passed on January 3, 2025, encouraging the use of artificial intelligence in daily operations and allowing witnesses to a distance.

Other efforts that are new in Congress, but have been established a long time ago in business and personal, including the ability to Tracking changes in legislation The feature of this scheduling Reduces overlap in meetings. Member Regularly To be two places at the same time.

Another effort in development is Internal employee guide To replace Expensive evidence gathered by private companies Assembling contact information for Congress employees.

The road forward

In 2022, what is now called “Holding to the membersHe returned to Congress with some digital improvements. Formerly known as “the allocations”, this is the practice of allowing members of Congress Specific projects accurately In the local areas to receive federal funds. The allocations were canceled in the year 2011 Fears of abuse and opposition By financial militants. Their return and rename the brand 2022 Lists of projects available to the publicAnd the rules of morals and Search engine for tracking Spending as an efforts to provide general transparency about allocations.

Additional repairs It can make the federal government More For the American people.

Some recent improvements are already familiar. Just as customers can continue connecting pizza from the oven to the doorstep, he created Congress in late 2024A Science tracking application Improved program This allows ingredients to receive the flag that flew over the Capitol in the United States. Before, the various procedures in the House of Representatives and the Senate caused a long time dive in this delivery system.

In the end, a stronger legislative body in the world signed Pizza Hut, which was launched this technology in 2017 To track the pizza from the store to the delivery driver to their front door.

Laureli KellyResearch leadership, Congress update, McCort College of Policy, Georgetown University

This article has been republished from Conversation Under the creative public license. Read The original article.