The Do Nothing Congress

The "Do Nothing Congress" is a nickname from the 1930s used by President Herbert Hoover to criticize the U.S. Congress for not passing enough laws or taking sufficient action to address economic and social problems, especially during the Great Depression. It implied that Congress was inactive or ineffective, failing to help Americans during a time of crisis. Over time, the phrase has been used to describe legislative bodies perceived as unproductive, though its accuracy depends on perspective and context.