1. Reforming Congress?

2. Problems with Congress
Policy Gridlock- too many competing interests and a failure to compromise has led to gridlock
Representatives don’t represent constituents
Take advantage of perks
Too busy running for reelection

3. Policy Gridlock Congress was designed as powerful
It was created for deliberative action
Today’s critics want a Congress that can enact legislation quickly (but there is inherent danger in that because they could do harm quickly, too)

4. Representatives Don’t Represent
Framers wanted the representatives to refine public views not reflect them
Today’s public wants representatives that are closer to our own views
Do we want a representative or direct democracy?
Direct would imply citizen legislators for short term assignments
Representative is what we have- professional legislators with expert staffs and no term limits

5. Take Advantage of Perks
Franking privilege- ability for members to send mail free of charge to constituents
- Critics say this is taxpayer money for candidate’s reelection
Pork barrel legislation- bills that contain money for projects in a congressmen’s district
- While the critics have a point, this money is actually not large compared to other gov. spending (like entitlement programs- welfare)

6. Too Busy Running for Reelection
95% of incumbents in Congress get reelected
Term limits have been brought up as a way to avoid this
Beginning in the 1990s some states began voting on limiting the terms of their reps.
The Supreme Court said it was unconstitutional
Term limits mean there would be a lot of novices in Congress and this may not lead to greater productivity

7. Quick Quiz on Ethics Which of the following things are okay?
Senator speaks at a university and receives payment for it
Representative goes out to lunch with a lobbyist and the lobbyist pays
Former Congressmen lobbies for a bill to be passed
Senator receives a gift from a close friend exceeding $100

8. Ethics : “We have the best Congress money can buy”
Divided power= divided responsibility and more opportunities to influence
Both the House and the Senate have ethics committees
Both have rules on things such as: gifts, fees, outside earned income, mass mailings, travel, lobbying when you leave office
No ethics code can really address the bargaining that goes on within Congress
Some scandals include:
Abscam scandal where a group of congressmen convicted of accepting money from a wealthy Arab seeking political favors
1997 Newt Gingrich- speaker of the House- fined $300,000 for illegally raising money

9. An Attempt at Reform: Contract with America
1994- Republican majority in House- promised the American people to reform congress in first 100 days
In show of party discipline they managed to get a lot of their promises passed
House reform
Reduced number of committees
Restricted committee chair terms
Changed rules of House, making it easier to offer amendments
In the end the Senate stymied much of the process but approval ratings of Congress increased