A Republican bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "One Subject at a Time Act" aims to stop the practice of including multiple subjects in a single bill. It requires that every bill or joint resolution focuses on only one subject. The subject of the bill must be clearly and descriptively stated in its title. For appropriation bills, any general legislation or changes to existing law must be related to the bill's specific subject. This act establishes enforcement mechanisms to void non-compliant provisions.
Yes
- Scored +5
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The act enhances transparency by forcing clear subject descriptions in bill titles.
- Scored +3
Does this make elections run better?
The bill increases legislative transparency and accountability by requiring single-subject focus.
- Scored +2
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill provides a mechanism for citizens to challenge the enforcement of non-compliant laws.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Would students be better off under this?
Legislative volatility could potentially void important student-related provisions if they are deemed non-germane.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Clarity in Legislation: Under Section 2(b), the subject of a bill must be clearly and descriptively expressed in the title, which ensures the public knows exactly what a bill is about.
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Prevention of Hidden Legislation: Section 2(c) prevents appropriation bills from containing general legislation or changes to existing law that are not related to the bill's actual purpose, which could protect against unexpected legal changes.
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Legal Recourse for Citizens: Section 3(e) allows any aggrieved person to take legal action against the United States to seek relief, such as an injunction, if a law was passed without following these single-subject rules.
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Accountability for Members of Congress: Section 3(e) also grants Members of Congress the right to take legal action if their specific House of Congress fails to comply with the requirements set forth in the act.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Voiding of Entire Acts: According to Section 3(a), if a title addresses two or more unrelated subjects, the entire Act or joint resolution becomes void, which could result in the loss of intended legislation.
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Voiding of Specific Provisions: Under Section 3(b), if a bill's title only covers one subject but the text includes provisions not described in that title, those specific provisions will be considered void.
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Loss of Funding Provisions: Section 3(c) states that if an appropriation bill includes a provision that falls outside the jurisdiction of the relevant subcommittee, that provision will be void.
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Voiding of Non-Germane Legislation: Section 3(d) dictates that any general legislation or change of law within an appropriation bill that is not related to the bill's subject matter will be void.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The act enhances transparency by forcing clear subject descriptions in bill titles. Does this make elections run better? — The bill increases legislative transparency and accountability by requiring single-subject focus. Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill provides a mechanism for citizens to challenge the enforcement of non-compliant laws.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Legislative volatility could potentially void important student-related provisions if they are deemed non-germane.
- 7/10/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.