Workhorses, not show horses: Five ways to promote effective lawmaking in Congress

There are ways to get things done under the U.S. Capitol dome. AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

Americans dislike Congress, especially when it fails to act on pressing problems. They are then surprised by legislative accomplishments on climate change, gun control and maintaining competitiveness with China.

But Congress does much more on a daily basis than deal – or fail to deal – with high-profile issues.