Governing By Shortcut – Congress Is Losing Ability To Function Through Regular Order
Summary
Congress increasingly relies on pre-negotiated, leadership-driven shortcuts shaped by Senate filibuster constraints rather than traditional committee-led processes. This shift is eroding institutional capacity and transparency, as major legislation is now crafted upstream with bipartisan compromise built around procedural hurdles. How is this transformation affecting the legislative branch's ability to function effectively?
 Congress still passes laws. It still funds the government — eventually. Committees still hold hearings. Members still issue press releases celebrating legislative wins.