House Speaker Paul Ryan finally got a major bill passed last week, and it reflected a learning process. Plenty of learning was needed not only because Ryan is new to the job and is by disposition a policy guy rather than a party enforcer, but also because corralling a majority has never been more difficult than during the Tea Party era.

The American Health Care Act, which repeals and replaces Obamacare, has plenty of shortcomings. Plenty of pitfalls also lie ahead of it. But it has become extraordinary for a major piece of legislation to clear the House of Representatives. So it’s worth studying what GOP leaders did differently this time, to see if there are any long-term lessons.