Rep. Chris Van Hollen's most recent YouTube video has more views than his Maryland district has constituents.
The Democratic congressman's video titled "The GOP's little rule change they hoped you wouldn't notice" casts a spotlight on a change to the House of Representatives' rules regarding a bill to avoid the government shutdown. This flew under the radar for nearly two weeks until Van Hollen posted his video on Saturday. The video has since surpassed 800,000 views.
See also: The 10 Cities Most Affected by U.S. Government Shutdown
"This video hits a fundamental issue at the core of our democracy," Van Hollen told Mashable via email. "But, because it involves an arcane parliamentary procedure, I had no idea that it would spark the public reaction we have seen. "
Under normal circumstances, any congressperson could call a vote "when the stage of a disagreement has been reached" on a joint resolution between the House and Senate. The House voted on a last-minute rule change late Sept. 30, however, which puts the power to call a vote solely in the hands of the House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) or someone he designates.
The rule change only affects the funding bill. House Republicans want to tie changes to the Affordable Care Act — better known as "Obamacare" — to the funding the bill that would end the government shutdown. The Democrat-controlled Senate has vowed to strike down any bill that attempts to alter the new healthcare law.
"It was a surprise. It certainly goes against the regular order, said James Thurber, a government professor at American University. He also said he couldn't immediately think of another instance that involved this type of rule change.
In the video above, Van Hollen says, "Democracy has been suspended," when Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a Republican from Utah, suspends Van Hollen's motion for a vote in accordance with the new rule.
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BONUS: The Government Shutdown in 15 Photos
Image: Mark Wilson/Getty Images
A U.S. Park Police officer stands guard at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Image: Flickr, NPCA Photos
The first of the nation's national parks did not escape the government shutdown.
Image: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
Congress' inability to strike a deal captured all the morning headlines. Some were more creative than others.
Image: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images
The shutdown closed the gates on Lady Liberty.
Image: Win McNamee/Getty Images
Flanked by residents who've benefited form the new health care law, President Barack Obama urged Congress to end the shutdown during a mid-day press conference in the White House Rose Garden.
Image: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images
This rickshaw driver usually makes his money taxiing tourists between attractions in Washington, D.C.
Image: Twitter, M. Scott Mahaskey
Politico photo editor M. Scott Mahaskey tweeted this photo of the empty rotunda inside the U.S. Capitol.
Image: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Even in the shadow of San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, the Fort Point National Historic Site could not hide from the shutdown.
Image: Scott Olson/Getty Images
Mount Rushmore will remain closed during the shutdown.
Image: Twitter, USA Today
Here's a creative emoji visualization of the shutdown by USA Today -- thumbs up for services unaffected by the shutdown, thumbs down for those that are closed.
Image: Twitter, Eric Cantor
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor provoked Senate leaders when he tweeted this photo of himself and his Republican colleagues waiting at the negotiating table.
Image: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
A U.S. Park Ranger barricades the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Image: Twitter, Leo Shane III
As Leo Shane III of Stars and Stripes showed us in a series of tweeted images, veterans managed to access the World War II Memorial, despite its closure.
Image: Flickr, NPCA Photos
Thomas Jefferson may have authored the Declaration of Independence, but that didn't spare his memorial from the shutdown.
Image: NASA.gov
A number of federal agencies, such as NASA as seen in this image, took their websites down during the shutdown. Even though a disagreement over Obamacare caused the shutdown, the law's online marketplaces opened today and remained operational, despite technical difficulties.