ABSTRACT
In terms of accountability, Congress is the branch of national government closest to the people. Our presumption is that a deep lack of trust is detrimental to the American polity and unhealthy for American society. Civic education in a democratic society must cultivate a certain degree of skepticism and critical, evaluative thinking, but such skills should rest on knowledge of political processes and analysis of policy alternatives. The current state of public attitudes toward Congress is a scornful combination of low confidence, lack of trust, and low opinion. Commercial news media coverage of national politics also places Congress at a disadvantage. Surveys reveal that young Americans have surly attitudes toward government and attribute little importance to political life. Study of Congress is but one of the many components of the collegiate survey courses in which students is most likely to be exposed to American politics in a systematic fashion.
