Why Everyone Thinks Congress Is a Mess (And What’s Really Going On)

A Building Full of Statues—and Frustration

Inside the U.S. Capitol (that’s the big building where lawmakers work), there are statues of famous Americans. One is Will Rogers, a well-known comedian and actor. He once joked about Congress (the group of people who make our laws):

"Every time they make a joke, it’s a law, and every time they make a law, it’s a joke."

That funny line still feels true to a lot of people. Almost 9 out of 10 Americans say they are unhappy with Congress.

Carl Hulse, a top reporter for The New York Times who has watched Congress since the 1980s, says:

• "It’s a great American pastime to hate Congress."
• But there is real frustration because the two big political parties barely work together.
• He says, "I’ve spent my career covering the decline of Congress."

Important: Hulse says many lawmakers want to do the right thing, but they just can’t get there because there’s very little cooperation.

The Constitution Says Congress Has Real Power

The U.S. Constitution is the rulebook for the country. Article I is the part that gives Congress its big powers.

Hulse warns:

• Congress is giving away its power to the President.
• This happened with taxes on imports (tariffs) and decisions about war.
• Once Congress gives power away, it usually never gets it back.

He says even if Republicans like the current President (Trump), the next Democratic president won’t give that power back to Congress.

"It goes for good."

Pointing Fingers

Right now, Republicans are in charge of both parts of Congress:

• The Senate (the smaller, older group of states’ representatives)
• The House (the bigger group based on population)

But they still get stuck. This group (the 119th Congress) has passed fewer bills (proposed laws) than many past groups.

A few things did happen:

• A big Republican bill that cuts taxes by $4.5 trillion over 10 years.
• A housing bill both parties agreed on.
• A partial government shutdown because they fought over money for homeland security.

Still, people on both sides are unhappy. And President Trump has often gone around Congress on:

• Trade (buying and selling with other countries)
• The conflict with Iran
• Trying to change voting rules

Important: Congress is being bypassed—the President is doing things on his own instead of waiting for lawmakers.

A Rocky Time in the Senate

The Senate has had a weird, sad few weeks:

• Former leader Mitch McConnell has been in the hospital for weeks.
• Senator Lindsey Graham suddenly passed away.

Hulse says this shows Congress is dealing with:

• Old age among members
• A meaner political mood than in 1985, when WWII veterans worked together more easily

Both parties blame each other:

• Democrat Peter Welch says the Republicans’ House is “chaos.”
• Republican Katie Britt says Democrats play politics instead of helping people.
• Democrat Chris Coons says Trump is “the biggest voice in the room” fighting his own Congress.

Experts Say: Broken AND Diminished

Two smart observers agree Congress is in trouble:

Sarah Binder (Brookings Institution):

• Congress is “struggling” and “diminished.”
• It has the power of the purse (money) and war, but gives it to the President.
• The “muscle memory” for making deals has weakened—like unused muscles.

Philip Wallach (American Enterprise Institute):

• Congress is “marginalized” (pushed to the side).
• Members used to think: “I’m here to solve problems by compromise.”
• Now compromise is a “dirty word.”
• They see their job as helping or fighting the President, not solving people’s problems.

President Trump has signed over 260 executive orders (rules a President can make alone). The two before him made fewer in 12 years combined.

In his five-and-a-half years in office, President Trump has issued more executive orders than were issued in the 12 years of the Obama and Biden administrations. CBS News

Should We Be Mad at Congress?

Wallach says Congress doesn’t need to be popular—making laws is messy, like making sausage.

Binder says:

• People should be mad.
• There’s $30 trillion in debt and Social Security (retirement money) in trouble.
• But the public also expects too much; you need big agreement to do big things, and that’s hard today.

Both say Congress is just a mirror of us and our divided times.

Looking Ahead

• Binder is “not that hopeful”—problems keep getting pushed to the future.
• Wallach is hopeful long-term—Congress has reinvented itself before and can again.

Summary

Congress is unpopular and struggling. It has constitutional power but keeps giving it to the President. Both parties blame each other, and experts say lawmakers stopped compromising. The public should care, but fixing it will take time and big change.

FAQ

1. What is Congress?
It’s the part of the U.S. government that makes laws, made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

2. Why is Congress “diminished”?
Because it has given many of its powers (like war and money decisions) to the President over the years.

3. What is an executive order?
A rule a President can make on their own without waiting for Congress.

4. Why don’t the two parties work together?
Experts say compromise became unpopular, and members now focus on helping or fighting the President instead of solving problems together.

5. Can Congress get better?
Maybe—one expert thinks it already has the power to fix itself, but it may take many years.