With one party controlling the White House and Congress, the House leadership is changing the way laws are made in America, favoring secrecy and speed over open debate and negotiation.

The energy bill has become a phonebook-sized symbol of modern Washington lawmaking, in which policy is driven by those who have money, power, and access to a relatively small group of decision-makers.

The Washington spoils system went into overdrive as lawmakers sought to build support for the Medicare prescription drug benefit while taking care of their home states and special-interest groups.