Comparing Modern Congresses: Can Productivity Be Measured?

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.