Congress, as it stands today, is a relic of a bygone era. When it was first established, the mechanisms of democracy were bound by the limitations of 18th-century technology. Representatives traveled to the nation’s capital by horse, spending weeks on the road just to cast votes or participate in debates. Citizens elected these representatives not only because they trusted their judgment but because there was no other practical way for the voice of the people to be heard across vast distances. Fast forward more than two centuries, and this system feels woefully outdated in a world transformed by technological progress.
The reality is that Congress today functions largely as a group of middlemen who often fail to represent the true will of their constituents. This disconnect is exacerbated by the influence of special interests and lobbyists who can sway votes away from the desires of everyday citizens. However, rather than abolishing Congress entirely, we should consider a model that preserves the structure of representation while ensuring that the votes cast by elected officials align directly with the will of the people they represent.
In this model, citizens would vote on bills directly, using secure and accessible technologies such as blockchain-based voting systems. When a bill comes up for a vote in Congress, all eligible voters in a representative’s district or state would have the opportunity to cast their votes. The representative would then be obligated to cast their official vote in Congress based on the majority preference of their constituents. This would remove the possibility of representatives voting against the wishes of those they are supposed to serve, ensuring a truly democratic process.
One of the most significant benefits of this model is that it could break the stranglehold of lobbyists on major issues that have gone unresolved for decades. Take healthcare reform, for instance. Polls consistently show that a majority of Americans support measures like lowering prescription drug prices or implementing universal healthcare systems. Yet, these reforms often stall due to the overwhelming influence of pharmaceutical and insurance industry lobbyists. By allowing citizens to directly determine how their representatives vote, these lobbying efforts would become irrelevant, and long-overdue reforms could finally become reality.
Another major issue is insider trading by members of Congress. Despite bipartisan outrage from the public, the practice persists because legislators who benefit from it are reluctant to enact meaningful restrictions. Under this new system, representatives would no longer have the power to act in their own financial interests against the will of their constituents. Votes on measures to ban insider trading would reflect the overwhelming public support for such policies, rendering the issue moot.
This system would prevent billionaires or other powerful interests from unilaterally deciding to shut down the government. Government shutdowns have become a political weapon, often wielded by those who can afford to weather the consequences. This leaves ordinary Americans to suffer the brunt of the fallout, from missed paychecks to reduced public services. In a system where constituents directly influence their representatives’ votes, the decision to shut down the government would rest with the people, not the whims of the ultra-wealthy or corporate-backed politicians. If a shutdown were truly necessary, it should be the collective will of the voters who decide, not a handful of billionaires pulling the strings.
This system would enable swift action on other broadly supported initiatives, such as tackling climate change, implementing stricter gun control measures, and improving education funding. These are issues where public consensus often exists, but legislative action is stymied by special interest groups that fund campaigns and influence lawmakers. By tying representatives’ votes directly to their constituents’ preferences, the power of money in politics would be drastically reduced, empowering voters to drive policy instead of lobbyists.
The Constitution’s Article I, Section 4, which empowers states to determine the “Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives,” was practical in an age when physical voting and representation were essential. Similarly, the length of time Congress remains in session, and the schedules that revolve around lengthy breaks for travel and recesses, are rooted in a time when representatives needed weeks to return to their districts by horse-drawn carriage. These outdated structures remain baked into the legislative calendar, despite modern transportation and communication advancements that render such delays unnecessary.
Technological advancements have made this vision entirely feasible. Blockchain voting systems, for example, can ensure secure, verifiable, and tamper-proof voting from the comfort of one’s home. These systems can also provide real-time transparency, allowing constituents to see exactly how their collective vote influenced their representative’s actions. With these tools, every voter’s voice would carry equal weight in shaping the nation’s laws.
Critics might argue that this system undermines the deliberative nature of Congress, where representatives are expected to use their judgment and expertise to make informed decisions. However, this concern can be addressed by providing voters with comprehensive resources, expert opinions, and clear explanations of each bill before they cast their votes. Just as representatives receive briefings and reports, citizens would have access to the same information, empowering them to make informed choices.
This approach would also preserve the symbolic and procedural roles of Congress. Representatives would still debate bills, participate in committees, and advocate for their districts, but their ultimate votes would reflect the will of the people they serve. In this way, Congress would evolve into a more democratic institution that amplifies, rather than overrides, the voice of the populace.
In a nation founded on the principle of government “by the people, for the people,” this system represents a natural progression toward a more participatory democracy. It harnesses the power of modern technology to bridge the gap between representatives and constituents, ensuring that every citizen’s voice is heard in the legislative process.
While asking Congress to revamp itself is likely not even remotely possible, there is another path forward. Candidates for office could embrace this strategy themselves. They could run on platforms pledging to implement secure systems that allow their constituents to vote directly on legislation. These candidates would commit to casting their congressional votes as instructed by the people, rather than bowing to the pressures of lobbyists and special interests. By empowering voters in this way, these candidates could redefine representation and bring the principles of democracy into the 21st century. This is not a rejection of Congress, but a reformation that aligns it with the realities and possibilities of our modern world.
