The Odd Years Does Congress Even Matter Anymore?
Apr 10, 2026
Molly Reynolds, vice president and director of governance studies at Brookings who studies Congress and legislative rules. She traces long-term trends like polarization and turnover. She explains why unified control boosts executive action. She discusses filibuster dynamics, member turnover centralizing power, and what a divided 2027 Congress might prioritize.
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Polarization And Narrow Margins Drive Dysfunction
- Congress's dysfunction is rooted in long-term trends like close partisan divides and polarization that make cooperation electorally risky.
- When majorities are narrow, members avoid bipartisan wins to prevent aiding the opposing party in the next election.
Executive Power Is A Longstanding Trend Not A One Off
- Expanded executive action builds on decades‑long trends, not just a single administration's choices.
- Courts and partisan orientation of future presidents shape whether executive actions persist or get reversed.
Executive Orders Create Unstable Short Term Gains
- Relying on executive orders produces unstable governance because future presidents and courts can undo or block actions.
- Litigation takes years, allowing temporary damage even when orders are later ruled unlawful.