How Jon Stewart and Lady Gaga Made Congress Less Lame: The Impact of Social Media on the Passage of Bills Through the "Lame Duck" Session of the 111th Congress and Beyond

Authors

Onika K. Williams, Indiana University Maurer School of LawFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

Publication Citation

87 Indiana Law Journal Supplement 17 (2012)

Abstract

The lame duck 111th Congress saw tremendous action in a relatively short period of time, and it was also witness to a phenomenon of social media. Users on websites such as Facebook and Twitter employed social media to send messages to their representatives and to actively participate in the lame duck session. Jon Stewart used television to advocate for Congress’s passing of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, and Lady Gaga employed Twitter to support the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act of 2010. Both bills subsequently passed Congress. The social media phenomenon did not end with the 111th Congress, however, and the 112th Congress saw issue after issue arise, many stemming at least in part from some aspect of social media. This Congress proved that social media’s influence may not always be positive, but its effect is real and should be contemplated in a serious fashion.

Recommended Citation

Williams, Onika K. (2012) "How Jon Stewart and Lady Gaga Made Congress Less Lame: The Impact of Social Media on the Passage of Bills Through the "Lame Duck" Session of the 111th Congress and Beyond," Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 87: Iss. 5, Article 2.
Available at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol87/iss5/2