The US Congress is both the most powerful branch of American government and the most dysfunctional. Congress makes the laws, mints the money, spends the money, approves judiciary nominations, and oversees the executive branch. In the land of checks and balances, they made out well. Those in congress simultaneously walk two tenuous tightropes: representation and collaboration. They are to protect and advocate for their constituencies as well as to collaboratively govern with those with whom...