11 Big Advantages of Having a House Majority in Congress

As of this writing, there are still 27 close House races yet to be called. The GOP only needs 8 victories out of 27 to secure the House majority.

Here are 11 significant advantages of having the House majority in Congress:

1. Control of Legislation:
The majority party decides which bills come to the floor for debate and voting. This means they can prioritize their legislative agenda over others.

2. Committee Chairs:
Majority party members chair all major committees, giving them control over the legislative process, including what bills are moved forward, how they are amended, and when they are brought to a vote.

3. Legislative Prioritization:
The majority can focus on passing their party’s key legislative priorities, potentially shaping policy in areas like healthcare, tax reform, infrastructure, or education according to their political ideology or campaign promises.

4. Influence Over Rules:
They control the House Rules Committee, which sets the terms for debate on legislation, including time limits, amendments, and whether bills can be filibustered or must pass with a simple majority.

5. Investigative Power:
With committee chair positions, the majority can initiate investigations into issues they deem important. This can influence public opinion, affect policy-making, or impact political opponents by highlighting or scrutinizing certain issues.

6. Budgetary Control:
The majority has significant sway over federal spending through the control of the Appropriations Committee. They can dictate where money is allocated, which can be used to fund or defund programs in line with their political goals.

7. Speaker of the House:
The Speaker, who is elected by the majority, has considerable power beyond just legislative control. They are second in line to succeed the President and have a major role in setting the legislative agenda, managing the House, and representing the House in inter-branch dialogues.

8. Political Momentum:
A majority can claim a mandate to enact their policies, which can influence public perception and provide momentum for their legislative efforts. This can also affect voter sentiment in future elections.

9. Strategic Voting:
They can use procedural maneuvers like “closed rules” to limit or prevent amendments from the minority, ensuring that bills are passed in forms favorable to their party’s interests.

10. Media and Public Relations:
The majority often gets more media coverage for their initiatives, which can be used to shape public discourse on legislative matters.

11. Influence Over Confirmation:
While the Senate confirms presidential appointments, House majority can influence this process by setting the stage through committee hearings or by impacting related legislation.

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