ABSTRACT
The Framers' intent still guides Congress, and it still works largely as they intended it to: government is slow, balky, and challenging. The differences among the institutions established by the Framers make it quite difficult to maintain party unity across the House, Senate, and executive branch. The Founders feared that without complexity, a power-hungry American Cromwell could amass all the federal power into one position; their dark view of human nature required the creation of a complicated, power-sharing system for their new federal government. Optimism is the right attitude toward the future for Congress and the constitutional order. Many observers of American politics have a low opinion of Congress, as does the public. Congressional policymaking is slow, disorganized, and difficult-just as the Framers intended. Public policy research and opinion journals focus on this role and give Congress poor marks for it-even when Congress operates in the intended manner.
