Congress

Columnist Ezra Klein contends that institutional deadlock and partisan rancor have paralyzed Congress, causing it to lose power to the president and the bureaucracy. Former representative Lee H. Hamilton contends that many of Congress’s so-called flaws are actually faithful reflections of how the American public thinks and feels.  Is your opinion of Congress low, and if so, why?  What do you believe contributes to the dysfunction of this governing body?  If you do not believe that Congress needs reform, how would you support your opinion to someone who felt that Congress is a paralyzed institution?  As a result of reading these selections and discussing the issue, has your opinion of Congress changed, for better or worse?

75-150 Essay