Bill Overview
Title: United States Inter-Parliamentary Union Participation Act
Description: This bill authorizes the Department of State to facilitate the U.S. readmission and participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union and to pay related annual membership expenses. (The Inter-Parliamentary Union is an international organization of national parliaments dedicated to the promotion of parliamentary democracy.)
Sponsors: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13]
Target Audience
Population: People engaged in legislative and democratic processes impacted by international parliamentary cooperation
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill links to the U.S.'s participation in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which is an international entity.
- IPU's goal is to promote parliamentary democracy globally, impacting political stakeholders in various countries.
- Policies and decisions made within the IPU could potentially impact democracies worldwide by influencing political frameworks and practices.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects a small subset of the U.S. population directly, primarily those involved in legislative and democratic processes.
- Most citizens will not perceive immediate direct effects; however, long-term outcomes might impact democratic practices and political environments.
- We target individuals involved in politics, academics, foreign relations, and attentive citizens for simulations due to indirect impact.
- We will represent a spread of impact perspectives, ranging from highly involved political figures to citizens with passing interest.
Simulated Interviews
Congressman (Washington D.C.)
Age: 54 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe this policy is crucial for enhancing our legislative effectiveness through international exchange.
- Readmission to the IPU will boost our global democratic commitments.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 10 | 8 |
Political Science Professor (New York, NY)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Engagement with the IPU could enrich our political discourse and encourage more informed democratic practices.
- I expect this to influence a lot of academic work on international democracies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired Diplomat (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy serves as a diplomatic tool and can enhance our international standing.
- It could improve the effectiveness of global democratic initiatives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Non-profit Manager (Austin, TX)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could broaden our resources and understanding in advocacy projects.
- We might see beneficial international collaborations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Journalist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 40 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Re-joining the IPU could bring interesting stories and analysis to the American public.
- Could shape public opinion on international democratic solidarity.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Law Student (Florida, FL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This initiative allows us to better align with international laws and governance systems.
- Could open new perspectives in my studies and future career.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
State Government Staffer (Seattle, WA)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's a marginally relevant policy but ensuring U.S. presence enhances federal impact on state governance indirectly.
- Participation could strengthen policy coherence across levels.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Tech Company Executive (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 48 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Ensuring we have international dialogue platforms may indirectly affect our industry regulations.
- Important for maintaining open, transparent governance structures globally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Civic Engagement Coordinator (Boston, MA)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Rejoining the IPU could lead to innovative ideas on civic engagement.
- Potentially beneficial for creating educational content and strategies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Graduate Student (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a student, these developments enrich my academic perspective.
- They can influence future policy directions I might be involved with.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 2: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 3: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 5: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 10: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Year 100: $2500000 (Low: $2000000, High: $3000000)
Key Considerations
- Membership fee estimates are subject to change and should be updated when specific IPU fee information is available.
- The policy indirectly supports U.S. diplomatic and legislative cohesion on international platforms.
- Ongoing costs may include representation fees, travel, and operational support for U.S. delegates.