ABSTRACT
People looking for positive portrayals of Congress will not find them in political cartoons. Since the 18th century, cartoons have expressed skepticism about the contributions of Congress to American political life and the character of congressional leaders. Cartoonists have rarely portrayed Congress as efficient, effective or ethical; rather, they frequently lampoon it for being confused, contentious and immoral. In short, the Congress that appears in political cartoons is not the ideal embodiment of a democratic institution. Congressional unity, which might be expected to yield positive portraits, is usually the product of either presidential domination or a congressional challenge to the White House. Cartoons also represent a unified Congress as an "old boys' club." Its members, in this vision, are the beneficiaries of unfair privileges, such as self-approved pay raises, and at worst the perpetrators of illegal acts, such as bribery.
