US lawmakers resume work for a tumultuous 2020

Significance

President Donald Trump and Congress have fewer than ten months until November’s elections for president, the House, the Senate, state legislatures and governorships. Preparations for the campaigns will preoccupy Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, all 435 representatives, the 35 senators running for election and eleven governors. With the onset of election year, the dynamics of governing and lawmaking among the states and the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government will change.

Impacts

• Trump will not transmit draft bills to Congress for significant proposals, weakening the institutional presidency.
• State legislature elections will affect how House congressional districts are re-drawn for the next ten years.
• The Supreme and Federal Appeals Courts’ judicial philosophy will get more conservative because of Trump’s appointments.
• Though this is not a leading election issue, Congress will be absorbed by the rapidly worsening state of US-Iran relations.