Could Rebooting Congress Help Save American Democracy? 

What is the case for strengthening Congress as an institution of deliberation, accountability, and compromise? 

Join the Levin Center and Wayne Law for a Constitution Day conversation on the challenges facing Congress today and the opportunities to revitalize its role in American democracy. As public trust in government has declined and political polarization has deepened, some observers point to the long-running erosion in congressional performance and capacity as a driving force in this dysfunction. 

This panel will explore both the causes and consequences of that decline and consider what it would mean to reinvest in Congress. Drawing on perspectives from practice, scholarship, and policy, the discussion will examine ways Congress might better support meaningful debate, strengthen its oversight responsibilities, and rebuild public confidence in democratic institutions. 

Featuring former U.S. Representative Barbara Comstock and Wayne Law Professor Steven Winter, the panel brings together insights from Capitol Hill and constitutional scholarship. Additional panelists from the policy community will be announced. 

This event is part of the Levin Center’s Congress 250 campaign and Wayne Law’s 100th anniversary celebration. Students, faculty, and members of the broader community are welcome. The panel will be followed by a reception in the Partrich Auditorium lobby.