ABSTRACT
Congress—the congressional system—consists of independent, individualistic members who possess considerable freedom of action rooted in their ability to win reelection. In more trying times—of severe economic dislocation or international crisis—perceived congressional shortcomings are more likely to inspire efforts to reform legislative practices to improve the quality of Congress' performance. An alternative avenue to escape congressional obstructionism is to create a disciplined, cohesive responsible-party system. The set of reforms, then, were reforms for responsibility, most aimed direcdy at the executive. Presidential assertiveness and congressional acquiescence combined to create an imbalance between the two branches. Individualistic members, eager to expand their opportunities for meaningful involvement in congressional decisionmaking, were the chief beneficiaries of the trend to responsiveness. Steps to increase accountability, like those to promote responsiveness, may have undercut congressional responsibility, to the regret of those who look to Congress for efficient policymaking.
