I mentioned last week that NYU’s law school had launched a “Democracy Project,” in which 100 commentators from across the philosophical and political divides had been asked to provide short essays on various aspects of democracy and the pressures it finds itself under today. These pieces are to be published over 100 days.

My contribution to the effort, posted today, is titled “Bring Back Congress.” I’ve tried to go back to first principles, pointing out that we not only do not have, but the Framers explicitly rejected, pure democracy. We are a constitutional republic, and our practice of democracy occurs within that special context, departing markedly from hands-on, participatory self-government.

Among the defining features of our system, I argue, is that we elect representatives who presumably become expert in the complexities of governance, make decisions on our behalf, and protect our interests. In this framework, Congress is — or is at least supposed to be — the first among equals when it comes to the three branches of government. If it is AWOL, as it too often is, the republic cannot function as designed. To my mind, that has become a huge concern.

The essay is here.