The Brady bill and its passage

Introduction         The legislative process in the United States Congress shows us an interesting drama in which a bill becomes a law through compromises made by diverse and sometimes conflicting interests in this country. There have been many controversial bills passed by Congress, but among all, I have taken a particular interest in the passage of the Brady bill. When the Brady debate was in full swing in Congress about three years ago, I was still …

…of the legislative process in the U.S. Congress. The seven year history of the bill demonstrated how partisan politics played a crucial role in the outcome of the bill, and how difficult it was to make bipartisan compromises to move the bill through Congress.         In concluding this research report, I would like to express my deepest respect for those who worked hard for the passage of the Brady bill, including Jim and Sarah Brady.