Congress: Core Documents

What’s wrong with our Congress? Judging by its approval ratings over the past decade, Congress has lost the support of the American people. Once considered to be the great American contribution to constitutional government—being governed by our own consent through elected, representative lawmakers—Congress is now the most disliked part of our political system. Over the past decade, Congress has not once reached a 30 percent approval rating or above. It hasn’t always been this way. This book collects primary texts to illuminate how Congress was designed to work, how it has changed over time, and how it functions today.