Some background in case this is your subject for the 1000 word paper.
In case you need help figuring out how to start.
From NPR: Congress wasn't always this dysfunctional (except it kind of was).
. . . it's part of a continuing deterioration of order on Capitol Hill that really dates back to the Berlin Wall coming down and the end of the Cold War. Once we were freed of that common enemy, there was no reason anymore to stop fighting amongst ourselves. And so this golden era that we remember, from World War II on through the 1950s and '60s, is gone now. And we're back to where we were in the 1920s, or the 1880s, or the 1850s.
It's not coincidental that the huge Speaker battles occurred in the four or five years before the Civil War, when America was struggling with big economic and regional issue like slavery. It's been rare in the 20th century and so far in this century, but this could be a sign of things to come.
- CONGRESSIONAL POLARIZATION: TERMINAL CONSTITUTIONAL DYSFUNCTION?
Political polarization has become a major focus in contemporary discussions on congressional activity and governance. The tone of these discussions has grown increasingly grim, as many political scientists argue that a constitutional system of divided and shared powers hardens current levels of partisan warfare into legislative gridlock. Proposals for reform abound. Scholars and political commentators have called for modifications to the electoral process and to party structure, for additional oversight of the culture among members of Congress, and for increased attention to demographics and economic inequality within the electorate. These proposals sometimes conflict, and usually face daunting legal or political obstacles to adoption.
- From Vox: Congressional dysfunction.
When people talk about congressional dysfunction they usually mean that Congress, despite its vast authority, seems paralyzed in the face of the nation's toughest problems. The paralysis usually stems from disagreements between the two parties, and is exacerbated by the unusual construction of the US Congress, which makes it possible for one party to control the House while the other controls (or at least exercises veto power) in the Senate. A secondary (and arguably related) problem people are sometimes referring to is the perception that the personal relationships between members of the two parties are angrier than they've been in the past.
- Six Ways to Fix a Dysfunctional Congress (Part 1).
For citizens that believe in a progressive federal government, Congress does not legislate enough. For citizens that believe in a limited government, Congress creates too many laws. In reality, there are instances where preventing legislation can be more beneficial than passing it; there are also occasions when legislation is necessary. But to make Congress more functional, reforms should seek to improve the quality of legislation, not the quantity. For this series, quality means legislation that considers all parties—even if those considerations do not lead to bipartisan support. Understanding what second and third order effects legislation may have is just as important—if not more important—than its intended effects.
Unfortunately, most proposed solutions for the issues gripping Congress possess a pro-passage bias. Experts and citizens alike advocate for more legislation as evidence to show that Congress works. Others argue Congress’s dysfunction is unrelated to the number of bills passed. Lee Drutman and Kevin Kosar, leading scholars in this area, explain that because Congress operates within an understaffed and inexperienced legislature, the sub-par results are linked to these staffing issues. Kosar further explains that Congress has ceded too much power to the Executive Branch, endangering the balance of the federal government. Kathy Goldschmidt, another leading authority in this area, agrees that staffing issues are problematic to Congress’s institutional health. But she also notes other issues facing Congress—the lack of deliberation, nonpartisan research and a withering technological infrastructure.
