Discover the Unusual: 9 Entertaining and Surprising Fun Facts About the Legislative Branch

1. Filibusters: Pirate-inspired Senate Chatter

Ahoy, landlubber politicians: Did you know filibustering owes its name to the swashbuckling pirates of the Caribbean? That's right, matey: This bipartisan practice of "freebooter" chatter began in the very first US Senate session back in 1789, when Pennsylvanian Senator William Maclay suspected his Virginian colleagues of filibustering with their lengthy talk to scuttle a bill. Over time, filibustering became such a regular shenanigan that the term "cloture" was concocted to limit debates – now, it takes 60 out of 100 senators to walk the plank and put a filibuster to rest!
Source => senate.gov

2. 1913's 17th Amendment: Reality TV Senate Edition

In the land before Twitter and hashtags, Senate drama unfolded in state legislatures with all the intensity of a Kim Kardashian episode party gone wrong: Prior to the 1913's 17th Amendment, senators were chosen by state legislatures, leading to prolonged vacancies, deadlocked decisions, and special interest group scandals that ultimately prompted the direct election of senators by the people.
Source => archives.gov

Did you know there's an act in Congress aiming to keep millions of furry friends united with their families in public housing? Unleash the details! 🐾

=> Fun Facts about Congress

3. Gender Gymder Divide: No Pecs, No Privilege!

In the not-so-fit past, the U.S. Congress once had a legislative "gymder divide," where male lawmakers had an exclusive fitness playground, while women were shown to a shrunken sweat chamber reminiscent of a broom closet with dumbbells: No pecs, no privilege! But trailblazing congresswomen like Patsy Mink and Nancy Johnson flexed their equality muscles, merging the workout spaces for both genders in 1985, and bench-pressing their way towards a fitter, fairer legislative branch.
Source => history.house.gov

4. House of Reps: 435 Cool Kids Club

Before the House of Representatives became a members-only club for 435 cool kids: The Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 set a cap on the House's membership at 435, halting its growth and ensuring more efficient representation. This was a result of concerns about the House becoming an unruly crowd, as its membership had previously increased from 391 to 433 with the possibility of two more spots opening up for the new states of New Mexico and Arizona.
Source => history.house.gov

5. Meet Mom: The British "Mother of Parliaments"

Who said mom's can't be cool? Meet the hippest mother in town, the British Parliament, affectionately known as the "Mother of Parliaments": This sassy matriarch inspired most other parliamentary systems with her trendy two-chamber style, featuring the once strictly upper-class House of Lords, and the people's favorite, the democratically elected House of Commons. Talk about a family legacy!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Althing: Iceland's OG World's Oldest Parliament

Before the Lannisters ever strutted through the halls of Westeros, the Norse gods were holding court and laying down the law in a land far north: The Althing, Iceland's national parliament, dates back to 930 AD, making it the oldest legislative body on the planet, with only a brief intermission before resuming its historic antics in 1845.
Source => simple.wikipedia.org

7. Taiwan's Legislature: Chair-launching Showdowns

Who needs video game battle royale when you've got Taiwan's Legislative Yuan: notorious for its uproarious, chair-launching, plastic-bottle-tossing showdowns between ruling and opposition parties, leading to marathon standoffs where phone-clinging, ear-covering local government personnel bear witness to democracy’s passionate, albeit counterproductive, slugfests.
Source => bbc.com

8. Congressional Staff: Party with a Headcount Limit!

Did someone call for a congressional party? But hold your horses, there's a headcount limit: Each member of Congress can hire a maximum of 18 permanent employees using their Members' Representational Allowance since 1975, with a few additional category-specific employees thrown in for good measure. Senators, on the other hand, get themselves an Official Personnel and Office Expense Account based on factors like state population and distance from Washington, DC – so they can keep the legislative show on the road! Got to love a workplace that knows its limits!
Source => everycrsreport.com

9. House Terms: A Kardashian Marriage Length Wish

We wish House of Reps terms were as long as a Kardashian marriage, but alas, it's only two years: Members of the U.S. House of Representatives serve a biennial term, which has been in place since the Constitution's creation, with some attempts to change its length made as recently as the 1960s - meaning that only a portion of the 435 seats is at stake during each federal election.
Source => history.house.gov