Jonathan Adler for The Democracy Project at NYU Law: Help Legislators Legislate Again

Jonathan Adler wrote for NYU Law’s Democracy Project 100 Ideas in 100 Days series.

Adler argues that “Congress is failing at its most basic constitutional function: legislating”. The breakdown in legislating stems not just from gridlock, but from deeper systemic issues—especially the way modern campaign finance rules shape lawmakers’ behavior. Because federal contribution limits force members to raise money through countless small donations, they spend hours fundraising instead of building relationships or crafting policy. This system rewards outrage over compromise, social-media clips over substance, and nationalized performance politics over local problem-solving, thereby eroding Congress’s ability to govern effectively. Solutions “demand[] a hard look at how existing laws, including campaign finance limits, shape legislative behavior and undermine our capacity for legislative governance.”

The NYU Law Democracy Project is promoting dialogue across ideological and political lines with the goal of helping break through today’s hyper-partisanship. Read the full article here.