Comparing Modern Congresses: Can Productivity Be Measured?
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Straus, Jacob. "Comparing Modern Congresses: Can Productivity Be Measured?" THE EVOLVING CONGRESS 113th Congress 2 (December 2014): 217-244. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CPRT-113SPRT89394/pdf/CPRT-113SPRT89394.pdf.
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This is a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.
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Abstract
Historically, scholars, the media, and even Members of Congress have attempted to compare the productivity of one Congress against another, often using a variety of methods. This report examines the three most common methods—legislation introduced, public laws enacted, and landmark legislation—which each demonstrate a different assessment of congressional activity over a 2-year period. The result of
this analysis shows that the three metrics, when used alone, may fail to account for the complexity inherent in developing policy in the American system.