Will Discontent in Congress Spark Change?

Congress doesn't really legislate. Instead, its members assume the executive branch and federal courts will decide most issues. When Congress does manage to act, it's because party leaders play a decisive role in both crafting legislation and shepherding it through the process. Members with short memories have difficulty imagining that the House and Senate could ever work without strict leadership control.  

Then again, nobody really believes that Congress is working as designed under the leadership-centric configuration we have now. Members are frustrated by the diminished role they now play and are embarrassed by their institution's dependence on ginned-up crises to act.