The Statecraft Blueprint

Congress Is Passing Less and Less Law

Public laws enacted per Congress, 91st–118th (1969–2024). In 1969–70, Congress passed 695 public laws. In 2023–24, it passed 274.

695
public laws enacted
91st Congress, 1969–70
274
public laws enacted
118th Congress, 2023–24
−61%
decline in laws passed
over 55 years
1.7%
of bills introduced became
law in the 118th Congress

Source: Brookings Institution, Vital Statistics on Congress, Ch. 6 (1969–2024); Senate Résumé of Congressional Activity. Full data and methodology: sources.md  |  Raw data: data.csv