Is Congress Broken? The Virtues and Defects of Partisanship and Gridlock
Published By: Brookings Institution
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Congress for many years has ranked low in public esteem — joining journalists, bankers, and union leaders at the bottom of polls. And in recent years there has been good reason for the public disregard, with the rise of hyper-partisanship and Congress’ increasing inability to carry out its required duties, such as passing spending bills on time and conducting responsible oversight of the executive branch.
Congress seems so dysfunctional that many observers have all but thrown up their hands in despair, suggesting that an apparently broken US political system might need to be replaced.
Now, some of the country’s foremost experts on Congress are reminding us that tough hyper-partisan conflict always has been a hallmark of the constitutional system. Going back to the nation’s early decades, Congress has experienced periods of division and turmoil. But even in those periods, Congress has been able to engage in serious deliberation, prevent ill-considered proposals from becoming law — and, over time, help develop a deeper, more lasting national consensus.
The 10 chapters in this volume focus on how Congress in the 21st century can once again fulfill its proper functions of representation, deliberation, legislation, and oversight. The authors offer a series of practical reforms that would maintain, rather than replace, the constitutional separation of powers that has served the nation well for more than 200 years.
Book Content:
Two Pathways for Congressional Reform
Daniel Stid
Congressional Representation and Contemporary Critiques
Andrew E. Busch
Return to Deliberation? Politics and Lawmaking in Committee and on the Floor
Daniel J. Palazzolo
Changing House Rules: From Level Playing Field to Partisan Tilt
Donald R. Wolfensberger
Reclaiming Institutional Relevance Through Congressional Oversight
Melanie Marlowe
The Other End of Pennsylvania Avenue
Gary J. Schmitt and Rebecca Burgess
The Constitution and Congressional Leadership
Kathryn Pearson
Ending the Omnibus: Restoring Regular Order in Congressional Appropriations
Peter C. Hanson
Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Back-Room Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy
Jonathan Rauch
A Return to Madisonian Republicanism: Strengthening the Nation’s Most Representative Institution
William F. Connelly Jr. and John J. Pitney Jr.
