Congress’ productivity continues to dwindle
Public laws enacted by each Congress, before Election Day
* As of Oct. 14, 2026.
Note: We sorted public laws into substantial and ceremonial categories. Substantive laws spend money, create or change permanent law, order government officials to do something, acquire or dispose of land or otherwise have some real-world impact, no matter how limited. Ceremonial laws have a smaller scope, such as honoring an individual or group.
Note: We sorted public laws into substantial and ceremonial categories. Substantive laws spend money, create or change permanent law, order government officials to do something, acquire or dispose of land or otherwise have some real-world impact, no matter how limited. Ceremonial laws have a smaller scope, such as honoring an individual or group.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Congress.gov data.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
Congress’ productivity continues to dwindle
Public laws enacted by each Congress, before Election Day
| Congress | Years | Congress | Substantive laws | Ceremonial laws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100th | 1987-88 | 100th (1987-89) | 388 | 247 |
| 101st | 1989-90 | 101st (1989-91) | 299 | 224 |
| 102nd | 1991-92 | 102nd (1991-93) | 387 | 197 |
| 103rd | 1993-94 | 103rd (1993-95) | 324 | 139 |
| 104th | 1995-96 | 104th (1995-97) | 286 | 46 |
| 105th | 1997-98 | 105th (1997-99) | 306 | 43 |
| 106th | 1999-00 | 106th (1999-01) | 344 | 105 |
| 107th | 2001-02 | 107th (2001-03) | 199 | 77 |
| 108th | 2003-04 | 108th (2003-05) | 304 | 110 |
| 109th | 2005-06 | 109th (2005-07) | 247 | 120 |
| 110th | 2007-08 | 110th (2007-09) | 286 | 162 |
| 111th | 2009-10 | 111th (2009-11) | 194 | 90 |
| 112th | 2011-12 | 112th (2011-13) | 143 | 53 |
| 113th | 2013-14 | 113th (2013-15) | 141 | 44 |
| 114th | 2015-16 | 114th (2015-17) | 172 | 72 |
| 115th | 2017-18 | 115th (2017-19) | 206 | 71 |
| 116th | 2019-20 | 116th (2019-21) | 150 | 43 |
| 117th | 2021-22 | 117th (2021-23) | 160 | 54 |
| 118th | 2023-24 | 118th (2023-25) | 84 | 22 |
| 119th* | 2025-26 | 119th* (2025-27) | 109 | 12 |
* As of Oct. 14, 2026.
Note: We sorted public laws into substantial and ceremonial categories. Substantive laws spend money, create or change permanent law, order government officials to do something, acquire or dispose of land or otherwise have some real-world impact, no matter how limited. Ceremonial laws have a smaller scope, such as honoring an individual or group.
Note: We sorted public laws into substantial and ceremonial categories. Substantive laws spend money, create or change permanent law, order government officials to do something, acquire or dispose of land or otherwise have some real-world impact, no matter how limited. Ceremonial laws have a smaller scope, such as honoring an individual or group.
Source: Pew Research Center analysis of Congress.gov data.
PEW RESEARCH CENTER
