Hitchhiker Bills Show Lawmakers Are More Effective Than We Thought

For decades, scholars measured legislative effectiveness by tracking bills members actively sponsor.

This new approach explores "hitchhiker" strategies — provisions in other bills that become law without direct sponsorship.

Findings on Hitchhiker Bills' Impact:

Counting these less obvious forms of effectiveness reveals a more inclusive and productive lawmaking process than previously understood, suggesting fewer hierarchical barriers to achieving results.

Why Lawmakers Hitchhike:

This research argues that agenda constraints (what issues get prioritized) and procedural limits drive hitchhiker strategies.

Examining Legislative Vehicles:

It also investigates which bills are more likely to be effective this way, finding notable differences between Senate and House initiatives.

For instance, a greater share of Senate bills become law through hitchhiking on House legislation than by being standalone measures.