Save the Date:
Could Rebooting Congress Help Save American Democracy?
The case for strengthening Congress as an institution of deliberation, accountability, and compromise
- Date: September 17, 2026 (Constitution Day)
- Time: 4pm – 5:30pm – followed by reception
- Location: Partrich Auditorium, Wayne Law, 471 W Palmer Ave, Detroit 48202
Description:
Join the Levin Center and Wayne Law for a Constitution Day conversation on the challenges facing Congress today and the opportunities to revitalize its role in American democracy. As public trust in government has declined and political polarization has deepened, some observers point to the long-running erosion in congressional performance and capacity as a driving force in this dysfunction.
This panel will explore both the causes and consequences of that decline and consider what it would mean to reinvest in Congress. Drawing on perspectives from practice, scholarship, and policy, the discussion will examine ways Congress might better support meaningful debate, strengthen its oversight responsibilities, and rebuild public confidence in democratic institutions.
The event is part of the Levin Center’s Congress 250 campaign and Wayne Law’s 100th anniversary celebration. Students, faculty, and members of the broader community are welcome. The panel will be followed by a reception in the Partrich Auditorium lobby.
Logistics:
- Date: September 17, 2026 (Constitution Day)
- Time: 4pm – 5:30pm – followed by reception
- Location: Partrich Auditorium, Wayne Law, 471 W Palmer Ave, Detroit 48202
- Parking: Parking Structure 1 is located opposite the Law School Building. Guest parking costs $9,- and can be paid by credit card at the entrance gate
- The panel will be recorded for upload to our YouTube channel
- Please RSVP below
Panelists:
Former U.S. Representative
Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute & Author of Why Congress
Walter S. Gibbs Distinguished Professor of Constitutional Law, Wayne State University Law School