When you think about Congress, you might imagine lawmakers working tirelessly behind the scenes to pass new laws and improve your community. But that’s not always what happens. Usually, members of Congress spend more time playing games than actually getting things done.
In reality, House Representatives and Senators use election schedules to maintain their power and influence – usually at the expense of democracy and the common good. Here are some of the tactics they use to build their personal brand, advance their legislative agenda, and keep their party in line – all while allowing business and lobby to effectively institute oligarchy.
Freshmen House Representatives: Rhetoric Games & Trial Bill Balloons
When a new member of Congress takes office, they’re often given a special task: make lots of speeches and statements that sound good but don’t actually do much, and floating trial bills that rarely make it to the Senate or effectively spend years in committee (further assuring better options never make it onto the docket/floor, let alone to the Senate). These are “rhetoric games” and effectively ‘showboating’. These lawmakers focus on building their personal brand by being seen as bold, innovative, or passionate about certain issues.
But this kind of behavior is not only useless – it’s also undermining democracy. By focusing on appearances rather than actual action, these lawmakers are prioritizing their own interests over the needs of their constituents. And that’s exactly what business and lobby want: a system where they can pull the strings and influence policy without being held accountable.
Senators: Quid Pro Quo & Party Discipline
Senators have different games they play. The first type is called “quid pro quo,” which means that one senator will do something for another senator in exchange for a favor. For example, Senator A might help Senator B get funding for their favorite project if Senator B helps Senator A with one of their own projects.
But senators also spend a lot of time maintaining party discipline. This means making sure that all the members of their party vote together on important issues. Senators use procedural rules like “cloture” to prevent bills from coming to a vote or being amended. This keeps their party in line and prevents them from doing anything that might jeopardize their own re-election.
These tactics are not only undemocratic – they’re also a way for business and lobby to maintain their influence over the system. By keeping lawmakers busy with gamesmanship rather than actual legislation, these special interests can continue to shape policy without being held accountable.
Class 1 Senators: Polarizing Constituency
There’s one group of senators who play a special kind of game. Class 1 Senators are the ones who take office at the start of a new presidential term, every four years. These senators have the power to polarize their constituency – that is, they can make voters more divided and extreme.
But this kind of rhetoric is not only disruptive – it’s also a way for business and lobby to maintain their grip on the system. By fueling partisan divisions and keeping lawmakers busy with gamesmanship, these special interests can continue to shape policy without being held accountable.
Conclusion
The games Congress plays are not just harmless fun – they’re undermining democracy and allowing business and lobby to institute oligarchy. Lawmakers’ tactics of building their personal brand, advancing their legislative agenda, and maintaining party discipline are all designed to keep the system in their favor – rather than serving the needs of their constituents.
Finally, to those who wish to point to the role of money in politics, the influence of media narratives, or the structural biases inherent in the electoral system as if these are rebukes or rebuttals to the preceding, I would point out: While it’s true that money in politics, media narratives, and structural biases can shape the political process, we mustn’t lose sight of the fact that these problems would not be nearly as entrenched were it not for Congress’s own complicity.
The notion that lawmakers are merely responding to external pressures ignores the fundamental reality: they are actively embracing and exploiting these systems to further their own interests and reputations.
By prioritizing personal brand-building, re-election, and party loyalty over actual governance, lawmakers are creating a culture of corruption that perpetuates itself. If Congress were genuinely committed to serving the public interest, it would not need to rely on expensive campaign ads or gerrymandered districts to stay in power. Instead, it would focus on crafting meaningful legislation, conducting thorough oversight, and holding itself accountable. The fact that lawmakers are so eager to game the system speaks volumes about their priorities – and it’s a problem that will only be solved when they start putting the people’s business ahead of their own interests.
As we move forward, it’s essential that we recognize the impact of these games on our democracy. We must demand more from our lawmakers – not just empty rhetoric or token gestures, but actual action that serves the common good. Anything less is a recipe for oligarchy – and a further erosion of the democratic principles that actually work and keep America strong.