Nearly 9 in 10 Americans express dissatisfaction with Congress, an institution that long-time observers describe as suffering from a decades-long decline in functionality and cooperation.
Institutional Decline and the Shift of Power
The U.S. Congress is grappling with a diminished role in the federal government. While Article I of the Constitution enumerates powers such as the “power of the purse” and the authority to declare war, Sarah Binder, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, notes that Congress has spent decades ceding these responsibilities to the president.
Philip Wallach, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, suggests that members of Congress have shifted their focus away from coalition-building. “What we’ve lost is the sense that, I’m sent here to solve the problems of the American people,” Wallach said. He notes that compromise is increasingly viewed as a “dirty word,” leading lawmakers to prioritize fighting against or supporting the White House based on party affiliation rather than legislative problem-solving.
Did You Know?
The U.S. Capitol features statues of historic figures like Will Rogers, who famously remarked on the legislative process: “Every time they make a joke, it’s a law, and every time they make a law, it’s a joke.”
Legislative Gridlock in the 119th Congress
The current legislative session has been marked by limited output and internal disruption. The 119th Congress has passed fewer bills than many of its predecessors, though it has enacted a $4.5 trillion tax-cut package and a bipartisan housing bill. These efforts have occurred alongside a partial government shutdown related to homeland security funding.
The Senate, in particular, is facing an uncertain period following the death of South Carolina Republican Lindsey Graham and the extended hospitalization of former majority leader Mitch McConnell. Hulse observes that the environment is significantly more difficult than it was in 1985, citing tight margins, gerrymandered districts, and a lack of cooperation between parties. Democratic and Republican senators remain divided on the cause, with Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) labeling the House “chaos,” while Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) argues that Democrats have chosen to “play politics” over the needs of the people.
Expert Insight:
The marginalization of Congress appears to be a self-reinforcing cycle. As members prioritize executive-branch outcomes—where they perceive “the real action” to be—the institution’s legislative “muscle memory” atrophies. Because power ceded to the executive branch is rarely reclaimed, this structural weakness may persist regardless of which party holds the presidency.
Future Outlook for the Legislative Branch
Analysts offer differing views on whether Congress can regain its footing. Binder remains skeptical, suggesting that the root causes of legislative dysfunction—including a $30 trillion national debt and the precarious state of Social Security—are likely to linger as Congress continues to defer difficult decisions. Conversely, Wallach takes a longer view, noting that Congress has historically undergone periods of reform. He suggests that the institution maintains the capacity to “regenerate itself” and eventually return to the center of American governance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Congress considered to be in decline?
According to Carl Hulse, the decline is driven by a lack of cross-party cooperation, the ceding of constitutional powers to the executive branch, and a political climate that discourages compromise.
How does the current use of executive orders compare to previous administrations?
President Trump has issued over 260 executive orders in his current term, a volume that exceeds the total number of executive orders issued during the combined 12 years of the Obama and Biden administrations.
Is there a consensus on why legislative progress has stalled?
No. While observers like Sarah Binder and Philip Wallach point to institutional atrophy and a shift in how members view their jobs, individual lawmakers continue to blame the opposing party for the lack of progress and the current state of gridlock.
Do you believe the public’s current frustration with Congress is an effective tool for forcing institutional change, or does it further contribute to the polarization of the legislative process?
Worth a look