The elections coming in November of this year are incredibly important. Even though we like to spend most of our media time talking about the President, it is really Congress that should attract most of our attention--constitutionally, it is the most responsive part of our federal government. Structurally, the Constitution gives us more power over Congress than over either of the other branches of government. Every two years, if we choose it, we could replace 87 percent of Congress: one-third of the 100 Senators and ALL of the 435 Representatives in the House. Also, we have a more direct relationship to our Representatives and Senators than to the President. Members of the House represent 500 times FEWER American citizens than the President. That means that the ratio of voters to elected official is much lower for Members of Congress than it is for the President. Our individual voice is therefore more powerful relative to our Representative than to our President. These structural signals embedded in our Constitution make Congress the "steering wheel" for our government. We must make our individual Members of Congress feel they will be held accountable for their inability to solve problems, pass legislation, or craft a balanced budget.
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