1.  Why does the American public have such a low opinion of Congress? Less than one- quarter approve of the way Congress does its job, and less than half (from Gallup April 2010) say their own member deserves to be re-elected. What can Congress do to improve its reputation among the general public?

2. How representative is Congress? Most legislators are white, upper-middle class males, although this group is a very small part of our entire population. What impact does this skewed representation have in terms of liberty, equality, and democracy? Can these people really represent women, minorities, and poor people? Realistically, could a poor person ever get elected?

3.  Are there stages at which the legislative process is more democratic than it is at others? In your opinion, is the overall process democratic?