Overview

The Center on Congress at Indiana University produces a series of commentaries by Director Lee Hamilton. In these commentaries, Hamilton draws on his 34 years of experience as a United States Representative from the Ninth District, Indiana, and explains the important function of Congress in our system of representative democracy. The commentaries listed below specifically describe the many laws and acts of government that impact citizens every day.

More Want More from Congress takes note of the increasing number of interest groups, businesses and citizens bringing their problems to Congress and asking for help from the federal government. Hamilton observes that there is broad agreement that what Congress does — or does not do — can have a major impact on people's lives and fortunes.

Remember to Separate the Wheat from the Chaff in Congress observes that the news from Capitol Hill is often about partisan standoffs and petty bickering, rhetorical posturing and ethics controversies. Hamilton counters this with a litany of major laws passed by Congress that have reshaped American society.

Congress and Your Daily Life takes you through a typical day, showing how the quality of life we enjoy — and often take for granted — has in many ways been enhanced by congressional action down through the years..

The Impact of Congress highlights major legislation passed by Congress in the past 50 years — measures that have improved the quality of life in America and abroad. Hamilton notes that while the failures of government will always receive more attention than its successes, we should be mindful that government, though sometimes part of the problems in our country, is also often part of the solution.

Congress and the Fabric of Our Lives describes how the work of Congress plays a major role in the average citizen's life. Hamilton observes that while many Americans regard policy debates in Washington as esoteric and irrelevant, what Congress does has a profound impact on everyone.

Clicking on any commentary title will direct you to a screen with the text of that essay. You can hear a shorter version of the commentary, recorded by Hamilton, by clicking on the LISTEN TO THE RADIO VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE link. If you wish to print the commentary without frames, click on PRINTABLE PAGE.