The laws that never made it can also show us the strength of lobbying.
"But now, the patent system is being gutted on the strength of lobbying by the information technology industry.
The strength of that lobby is often exaggerated: there are arguably as many Americans descended from Irish Protestants as from Irish Catholics.
"We realize this cannot replace unions that do collective bargaining, but it does give us a new vehicle of great strength to lobby for working families on many issues," said John J. Sweeney, the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s president.
However, he insisted he was referring to Qatar using their "financial strength" to lobby legitimately for votes.
But the committee vote reflects the strength of the technology lobby.
Given the strength of the banking lobby, Mr Atkinson argues that "the FSA needs political support and there isn't any".
"He may want to move ahead, but he will face the strength of the agricultural lobby and ministries in Europe.
The strength of the conservative lobby was evident during the vote, when deputy after deputy dedicated their ballots to God, family or country.
The next chairman of the F.C.C., however, will face an uphill battle convincing members of Congress, backed by the strength of the telecommunications lobby, that more rules and regulations are needed for that rapidly changing part of the economy.
