Congress is dysfunctional, but it can be fixed. This two-part series explains why Congress is broken and how to fix it. Although some pundits suggest that the lack of compromise and civility are the reasons why Congress is dysfunctional, those reasons are symptoms of the root cause: a lack of deliberation. More debate will lead to more civility and compromise. But today, Congress appears to provide more sound bites than deliberation. This reality must change. For citizens that believe in a progressive federal government, Congress does not legislate enough. For citizens that believe in a limited government, Congress creates too many laws. In reality, there are instances where preventing legislation can be more beneficial than passing it; there are also occasions when legislation is necessary. But to make Congress more functional, reforms should seek to improve the quality of legislation, not the quantity. For this series, quality means legislation that considers all parties—even if those considerations do not lead to bipartisan support. Understanding what second and third order effects legislation may have is just as important—if not more important—than its intended effects. Unfortunately, most proposed solutions for the issues gripping Congress possess a pro-passage bias. Experts and citizens alike advocate for more legislation as evidence to show that Congress works. Others argue Congress’s dysfunction is unrelated to the number of bills passed. Lee Drutman and Kevin Kosar, leading scholars in this area, explain that because Congress operates within an understaffed and inexperienced legislature, the sub-par results are linked to these staffing issues. Kosar further explains that Congress has ceded too much power to the Executive Branch, endangering the balance of the federal government. Kathy Goldschmidt, another leading authority in this area, agrees that staffing issues are problematic to Congress’s institutional health. But she also notes other issues facing Congress—the lack of deliberation, nonpartisan research and a withering technological infrastructure.Although these recommendations deserve attention, one in particular requires significant discussion: the absence of deliberation. To improve its functionality, Congress must reorient its focus toward the issues facing America and restore the power of deliberation. In its current state, Congress fails to accomplish some of its most basic duties at times, such as passing a budget. The status quo is unacceptable. Congress is at its best when legislation is not forced through, when ideas and reason—rather than political posturing—prosper, and when the American people are its sole focus. Congress is dysfunctional because it has lost sight of these ideals, not because it does not create enough laws. When Congress must legislate, it should pass well-reasoned and thoroughly debated laws. Today, however, legislators seem to care more about creating sound-bites, fundraising, and traveling. The following reforms would restore deliberation and improve Congress’s functionality.
Source: Georgetown Public Policy Review / Six Ways to Fix a Dysfunctional Congress (Part 1) – Georgetown Public Policy Review
