Strengthening Congress Contact For more information about our strengthening Congress work, please contact Troy Cribb. Email Troy Back to Congress Strengthening Congress The Partnership’s work to build a better government and a stronger democracy includes strengthening Congress. We foster constructive working relationships between executive and legislative branch leaders, provide insights on government performance to improve legislation and oversight, and promote efforts to modernize Congress so it has the capacity to listen, legislate and lead for our diverse nation. This work includes: Supporting modernization efforts with expertise and advocacy to improve how Congress works and help the institution better serve our diverse nation. Sharing research and performance insights to improve how Congress assesses its own performance and the performance of the executive branch agencies it oversees. Sharing best practices and expertise in public service leadership and management to help members of Congress and congressional staff serve the public effectively and equitably. Explore our communications toolkit on restoring trust in Congress Read our State of the Congress 2022 report Resources A New Hope: Congress Our data shows that Americans do not feel hopeless about Congress, but rather are ambivalent. By informing the public of Congress’ accomplishments, we have an opportunity to change the way people think about the institution and our democracy. Read More Renewing Trust and Hope in Congress Toolkit We created a toolkit with Hattaway Communications to help the Partnership and our allies communicate a consistent set of messages and produce a steady stream of stories that help to rebuild public trust in Congress and reinvigorate people’s hope for the institution. Download State of the Congress 2022 In collaboration with the Congressional Management Foundation, we drew on the insights of staff working in Congress to assess congressional civility, functionality and capacity. Our findings show bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the challenges facing Congress. Read More Foresight is 20/20: Polarization and Trust Political polarization and low levels of public trust in our federal institutions have made it harder for members of Congress to find common ground and has led to the erosion of democratic norms. This issue brief offers a starting point for new, fresh-thinking approaches that can make Congress more proactive and less reactive. Read More Serving the People: Congressional Staff Perspectives Report Drawing on the perspectives of congressional staff, this report seeks to answer two broad questions: “What does a healthy Congress look like?” and “How do we build it?” Read More Blogs The Partnership for Public Service launches the Alliance for Congress, a new initiative to support Congress and strengthen our democracy The Partnership launches the Alliance for Congress, an ambitious new initiative dedicated to helping Congress become a more effective institution by investing in its own capacity to tackle big issues facing the nation and to better serve the public good. Read More Urgent and important: Navigating the political realities while building the capacity of Congress to better serve the public In a 1954 address to the World Council of Churches, President Dwight Eisenhower summed up what he called “the dilemma of modern man.” “I have two kinds of problems,” the president declared, “the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent.” This dilemma remains universal – as true… Read More A Capitol commitment to public service Congress has an essential role to play in addressing the nation’s challenges and serving the needs of the American public, but as an institution, it has neglected its own organizational health and seldom invested in its capacity to listen, legislate and lead. But the future is hopeful. The Partnership for Public Service is premised on… Read More The anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection: A time to heal and reflect During my years of public service, my time working on Capitol Hill was the most poignant. The idea of walking the same halls as those who built the greatest democracy the world has ever known was overwhelming. Read More Events Serving the People Investing in Congressional Capacity During this program, legislative branch leaders discussed ongoing efforts to modernize Congress while addressing the institutional challenges that keep Congress from meeting the country’s diverse needs and interests. Learn More