ABSTRACT
Legislatures perform many functions for democratic political systems. The Congress of the United States performs all the other functions of a legislature, but it is perhaps particularly well-equipped to make law, when compared to other legislative bodies. In 2021, the Congress of the United States directly employs roughly 20,000 people. It also has some influence over hiring several thousand other employees, such as the Capitol Police. In addition to the staffs serving individual Congressmen, each of the committees in Congress has its own staff. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was created as a result of the Congressional Budgeting and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. The Congress of the United States has had the potential to be a truly transformative legislature. The Constitution gives it ample legislative powers, especially over the raising and spending of public money.
