Congressional Self-Improvement

The complaint about Congress which has been more or less chronic in this country's history became acute during the 77th Congress (1941–42). While some of the condemnation was abusive, personal, and partisan, much of it was a frank recognition of existing weaknesses emphasized by present responsibilities. Intelligent response to this criticism both inside and outside of Congress resulted in constructive suggestions intended to restore the representative branch to fullest prestige and usefulness. While far-reaching alterations in the working arrangements of Congress proposed by publicists and scholars may be completely sound, it would be naïve to assume that any reform could be imposed on Congress from without. Congressmen are notoriously jealous of their own prerogatives, and the only hope of modernizing the lawmaking branch rests with them. It is therefore highly significant that the members of the 78th Congress reacted to the criticism by introducing an unprecedented number of resolutions ranging from the smug suggestion for a committee to protect the integrity of Congress to two soul-searching recommendations for special committees to study all aspects of Congressional reorganization.