Congress Facts: Everybody Hates Congress

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In this second installment of Congress Facts let's take a look at some of the lowlights of Congress' recent history. Fewer days in session, fewer committee hearings, and fewer House members reelected.

Follow below the fold.

  • Number of Days the House has been in session this year: 96[1]
  • Number of Days less than the 80th “Do-Nothing” Congress the House has been in Session: 12
  • Number of Committee Meetings in the House of Representatives in 1985: 2657
  • Number of Committee Meetings in the House of Representatives in 1995: 2017
  • Number of Committee Meetings in the House of Representatives in 2005: 1451
  • Number of Subpoenas Issued by the House Government Reform Committee to Baseball Players in 2005: 7
  • Number of Subpoenas Issued by the House Government Reform Committee to the Bush Administration since 2001: 3
  • Number of committee hearings classified as “oversight” from 1993-94: 135[2]
  • Number of committee hearings classified as “oversight” from 2003-4: 37[3]
  • Cost to Run a House Campaign in 1976 (in 2004 dollars): $239,019[4]
  • Cost to Run a House Campaign in 2006: $966,000[5]
  • Reelection Rate in the 2004 House Elections: 98%[6]
  • Reelection Rate in the 2006 House Elections: 94%[7]

[2] Milligan, Susan. “Congress Reduces its Oversight Role,” Boston Globe, November 20, 2005.

[3] Id.

[4] Cantor, Joseph. “Congressional Campaign Spending: 1976-1996,” CRS Reports, August 19, 1997. (inflation calculated with Inflation Calculator)

[5] “Incumbents Linked to Corruption Lose, but Money Still Wins,” Open Secrets, November 10, 2006.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.