Is Congress getting dumber?

[^_^ 5,021]

Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago.

...

Of course, what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications. And lawmakers of both parties still speak above the heads of the average American, who reads at between an 8th and 9th grade level.

Today’s Congress speaks at about a 10.6 grade level, down from 11.5 in 2005. By comparison, the U.S. Constitution is written at a 17.8 grade level, the Federalist Papers at a 17.1 grade level, and the Declaration of Independence at a 15.1 grade level. The Gettysburg Address comes in at an 11.2 grade level and Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is at a 9.4 grade level. Most major newspapers are written at between an 11th and 14th grade level. (You can find more comparisons here)

All these analyses use the Flesch-Kincaid test, which produces the 'reads at a n-th grade level' terminology that is likely familiar to many readers. At its core, Flesch-Kincaid equates higher grade levels with longer words and longer sentences. It is important to understand the limitations of this metric: it tells us nothing about the clarity or correctness of a passage of text.

...

Overall, the complexity of speech in the Congressional Record has declined steadily since 2005.

...

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the decline. Perhaps it reflects lawmakers speaking more in talking points, and increasingly packaging their floor speeches for YouTube. Gone, perhaps, are the golden days when legislators spoke to persuade each other, thoughtfully wrestled with complex policy trade-offs, and regularly quoted Shakespeare.

The data indicate that part of the decline has to do with new junior members speaking at a lower grade level than more senior members, and some of it has to do with individual senior members simplifying their speech over time.

...

Among the newest members (those with 1-3 years in their seat), there is drop off in speech level as we move from the center out to either extreme of the political spectrum ... For the next cohort (4-10 years of experience), the same pattern continues on both the political right and left.

...

For the next cohort (11-20 years in their seat), the pattern on the right (more conservative, simpler speech) remains, but the pattern on the left reverses (there is a slight correlation between more liberalism and higher speech grade level). In the most senior cohort (more than 20 years in their seat), Republicans speak, on average, at a higher level than Democrats, with only the slightest relationship between conservatism and more simple speech.

http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2012/05/21/congressional-speech/

[Darnell 8,478]

i think a good chunk of this can be attributed to congressmen's staff, as it's THEY/THEM that are writing the majority of what gets into the Congressional Record.

So, to blame it on 'The Man' is disingenuous, blame it on 'The Man's Helpers' instead.

[^_^ 5,021]

i think a good chunk of this can be attributed to congressmen's staff, as it's THEY/THEM that are writing the majority of what gets into the Congressional Record.

So, to blame it on 'The Man' is disingenuous, blame it on 'The Man's Helpers' instead.

If my team fails to perform, people blame management. Why? Because management put and keeps the team together.

[Darnell 8,478]

If my team fails to perform, people blame management. Why? Because management put and keeps the team together.

Alas, different hiring standards for 'your team' vs The Man's team.

But I understand yer point.

[^_^ 5,021]

Alas, different hiring standards for 'your team' vs The Man's team.

But I understand yer point.

I plead ignorance - who hires congressional staff?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I plead ignorance - who hires congressional staff?

Pedophiles and misogynists.

[^_^ 5,021]

Pedophiles and misogynists.

?

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

After hearing debates in Parliament, you begin to realize how dense US congressman really are. If you put 90% of US Senators or Congressman in Parliament they would be shutdown and laughed out of the room.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Is Congress getting dumber?

Yes.

[mawilson 2,133]

By comparison, the U.S. Constitution is written at a 17.8 grade level, the Federalist Papers at a 17.1 grade level, and the Declaration of Independence at a 15.1 grade level.

I thought there were 12 grades?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

I thought there were 12 grades?

Makes you wonder what level the purveyors of the study are functioning at.

[Darnell 8,478]

After hearing debates in Parliament, you begin to realize how dense US congressman really are. If you put 90% of US Senators or Congressman in Parliament they would be shutdown and laughed out of the room.

agree. i gets my oratory skills solely from watching prime minister's questions , these last 20 years. [Thank You C-Span].

I thought there were 12 grades?

The scale had to skew, to handle the use of language.

[PMartin37 161]

Congress now speaks at almost a full grade level lower than it did just seven years ago.

...

Of course, what some might interpret as a dumbing down of Congress, others will see as more effective communications. And lawmakers of both parties still speak above the heads of the average American, who reads at between an 8th and 9th grade level.

Today’s Congress speaks at about a 10.6 grade level, down from 11.5 in 2005. By comparison, the U.S. Constitution is written at a 17.8 grade level, the Federalist Papers at a 17.1 grade level, and the Declaration of Independence at a 15.1 grade level. The Gettysburg Address comes in at an 11.2 grade level and Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech is at a 9.4 grade level. Most major newspapers are written at between an 11th and 14th grade level. (You can find more comparisons here)

All these analyses use the Flesch-Kincaid test, which produces the 'reads at a n-th grade level' terminology that is likely familiar to many readers. At its core, Flesch-Kincaid equates higher grade levels with longer words and longer sentences. It is important to understand the limitations of this metric: it tells us nothing about the clarity or correctness of a passage of text.

...

Overall, the complexity of speech in the Congressional Record has declined steadily since 2005.

...

It’s hard to pinpoint the exact cause of the decline. Perhaps it reflects lawmakers speaking more in talking points, and increasingly packaging their floor speeches for YouTube. Gone, perhaps, are the golden days when legislators spoke to persuade each other, thoughtfully wrestled with complex policy trade-offs, and regularly quoted Shakespeare.

The data indicate that part of the decline has to do with new junior members speaking at a lower grade level than more senior members, and some of it has to do with individual senior members simplifying their speech over time.

...

Among the newest members (those with 1-3 years in their seat), there is drop off in speech level as we move from the center out to either extreme of the political spectrum ... For the next cohort (4-10 years of experience), the same pattern continues on both the political right and left.

...

For the next cohort (11-20 years in their seat), the pattern on the right (more conservative, simpler speech) remains, but the pattern on the left reverses (there is a slight correlation between more liberalism and higher speech grade level). In the most senior cohort (more than 20 years in their seat), Republicans speak, on average, at a higher level than Democrats, with only the slightest relationship between conservatism and more simple speech.

http://sunlightfoundation.com/blog/2012/05/21/congressional-speech/

And what would the Flesch-Kincaid test grade the likes of Sarah Palin and her level of communication? Any guesses?

[james&olya 1,121]

I thought there were 12 grades?

I wasn't finished till 23!

[Leatherneck 693]

And what would the Flesch-Kincaid test grade the likes of Sarah Palin and her level of communication? Any guesses?

The "likes" of Joe Biden included?

Edited May 23, 2012 by Leatherneck