Analytical Essay

Congress is renowned for being “unproductive.” Using the text and lectures explain, the text, and lectures explain how you would make Congress more “productive” especially in setting coherent non-incremental national policy/programs. Whatever mechanism you create make sure it is representative and responsive to the public.

Be sure to include in your essay the internal mechanism you will use to introduce, debate and vote on a bill. Your improvements should address Dodd’s comments on the failings of the committee structure in the lecture notes and the section on “How a Law Goes Through Congress.”

In addition you can address the election system’s shortfalls (gerrymandering, the winner-takes-all system, terms, the diversity of the members, campaign financing etc.). However, these items are secondary to the internal mechanism you design.