CEL on 1440 Explores

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Center for Effective Lawmaking (CEL) Co-Director Craig Volden of the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia was a guest on 1440 Explores to discuss why Congress has become dysfunctional and unpopular over the years – and how the reality of passing legislation is far different from the Schoolhouse Rock! “I’m Just a Bill” cartoon.

In the video titled “How America Broke Congress,” hosted by 1440 Editor-in-Chief Sony Kassam, Professor Volden gives a brief history of Congress and how the legislative process is supposed to work. He then explains how Congress’s powers used to be limited in scope but expanded over the course of the 20th century. This raised the bar for what Americans expected of the institution and changed the dynamics of how Members of Congress serve and run for office. Congress does still have the ability to pass legislation, particularly when a crisis emerges or through workarounds like omnibus bills, though this does not always reflect the will of the American people. The legislative body also faces the possibility of having its power further replaced by the private sector or another branch (or level) of government. He concluded by saying that collaborative legislation still often does become law, even if it is not widely known by the general public.

Professor Volden and the CEL are pleased to have the opportunity to discuss this important topic.

To watch the full video, see below: