America stands at a crossroads. While the nation faces countless challenges, two root causes underlie many of our struggles: the diminishing power of the vote and the unchecked growth of the administrative state. Together, these issues have eroded public trust, weakened the government’s effectiveness, and distanced elected officials and administrators from the citizens they serve.
This article explores these twin challenges and proposes a two-step solution: first, reclaiming the power of the vote by undoing the Primary and Caucus (P&C) system implemented in 1972; and second, empowering a strengthened legislature to mandate Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) for federal agencies. These actions will restore democratic accountability and foster a more efficient, responsive government.
About the author: Jeff Hulett leads Personal Finance Reimagined, a decision-making and financial education platform. He teaches personal finance at James Madison University and provides personal finance seminars. Check out his book -- Making Choices, Making Money: Your Guide to Making Confident Financial Decisions.
Jeff is a career banker, data scientist, behavioral economist, and choice architect. Jeff has held banking and consulting leadership roles at Wells Fargo, Citibank, KPMG, and IBM.
Political disclosure: Please see the author's political disclosure and business profile.
Table of Contents
Introduction
America’s Twin Challenges
The Two-Step Solution
The Challenges
Challenge 1: The Vote Got Hacked
Why the Vote Matters
Impact of the P&C System
Reclaiming the Vote: Key Reforms
Challenge 2: The Administrative State is Out of Control
Growth of the Administrative State
Symptoms of Inefficiency and Overreach
The Solutions
Step 1: Reclaim the Vote
Strengthening Legislative Accountability
Step 2: Rein in the Administrative State with ZBB
What is ZBB?
Case Study: ZBB at the SEC
Broader Benefits of ZBB
Overcoming Challenges
Addressing Resistance to Reform
Conclusion - Restoring Trust and Effectiveness
Resources for the Curious
Suggested Readings and Citations
Next, we discuss the two fundamental challenges America faces undermining the effectiveness of its democracy: a voting system that no longer reflects the will of the majority and an administrative state that has grown unwieldy and disconnected from the citizens it serves. Addressing these issues is essential to restoring trust in government and ensuring it works for the people.
Challenge 1: The Vote Got Hacked
The vote is the cornerstone of democracy. For nearly two centuries, America’s electoral system functioned as the Founders intended: citizens’ preferences were communicated to elected officials, who crafted laws to guide the nation’s future. However, the introduction of the P&C system in 1972 disrupted this balance, effectively “hacking” the vote.
The Primary and Caucus (P&C) system was born out of the McGovern-Fraser Commission's recommendations, a response to the turbulent 1968 Democratic National Convention. The commission sought to make the nomination process more transparent and inclusive, addressing concerns that party elites wielded too much control. While well-intentioned, these reforms inadvertently shifted power to ideologically driven primary voters, weakening the broader electorate’s influence and fueling partisan extremism.
How the P&C System Weakened the Vote
To understand how the P&C system weakened the vote, it is important to first remind ourselves why the vote is foundational to democracy. James Madison, known as the Father of the Constitution, viewed voting as an essential safeguard against factions and special interests. In Federalist No. 10, Madison wrote:
"If a faction consists of less than a majority, relief is supplied by the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat its sinister views by regular vote."
Madison’s insight highlights the vote's role in ensuring that the majority’s will prevails while protecting against the tyranny of political parties. In modern words, a faction is a political party. The founders considered political parties a necessary evil. As John Adams said:
“There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.”
By expressing their preferences through the vote, citizens can hold elected officials accountable, shape the nation’s direction, and ensure the government operates in service of the people.
The P&C system undermines democratic principles by shifting candidate selection power from political parties that represent the broader electorate to primary voters allowing a small, ideologically extreme minority to dominate the process. Before the P&C system, parties prioritized majority interests to win elections, fostering broad-based support. Primaries, however, incentivize parties to cater to narrow factions or funders, weakening their accountability to the general electorate. This shift has fueled polarization, gridlock, and a legislative branch less capable of representing diverse voter needs. This shift has had far-reaching consequences:
Rise of Partisan Gridlock: Candidates now cater to their party’s most extreme factions, leading to hyper-partisanship and legislative gridlock.
Weakened Legislative Branch: Lawmakers prioritize party loyalty over bipartisan solutions, diminishing Congress’s ability to craft forward-looking laws. Party-line voting has increased substantially since 1972.
Erosion of Majority Representation: The broader electorate’s preferences are drowned out, leaving many citizens feeling disconnected from their government.
Note: The left axis represents the U.S. Legislative branch party-line voting percentage.
Source: Vital Statistics on Congress, The Brookings Institution
Additionally, political power has become increasingly consolidated within the party leadership, sidelining elected officials who should represent voters’ interests. This centralization further exacerbates partisan divides and erodes the accountability legislators owe to their constituents.
The Ripple Effects
This systemic distortion has destabilized America’s political balance. Congress, once the architect of the nation’s future, has ceded power to the executive and judicial branches. Legislative dysfunction undermines innovation, exacerbates inequality, and fuels public frustration with a government perceived as out of touch. Before 1972, the legislative branch attracted candidates who possessed a deep commitment to representative democracy and a focus on crafting laws serving the public interest. Today, it tends to draw individuals with personal wealth, a prominent social media presence, and a flair for political theatrics. The emphasis on negotiation and collaboration for the common good has significantly diminished among legislators.
Challenge 2: The Administrative State is Out of Control
The administrative state encompasses federal agencies tasked with executing laws and managing government operations. While these institutions play an essential role, their unchecked expansion has led to inefficiency, lack of accountability, and regulatory overreach.
A Brief History of the Administrative State
The administrative state, as we know it today, has its roots in the Progressive Movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Progressives sought to address the challenges of industrialization, including corruption, monopolies, and inequality, by introducing expert-driven government agencies to manage complex societal issues.
Woodrow Wilson, a leading figure of the Progressive Era and later the 28th President of the United States, championed the idea of a professionalized bureaucracy insulated from political pressures. In his 1887 essay The Study of Administration, Wilson argued that effective governance required a separation between politics and administration. He envisioned a government where trained experts, rather than elected officials, would manage technical and regulatory matters to promote efficiency and impartiality.
This philosophy laid the groundwork for the creation of numerous federal agencies during the Progressive Era, including the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The New Deal of the 1930s under President Franklin D. Roosevelt accelerated this trend, establishing agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) to address economic crises and social welfare needs. Later, the Great Society programs of the 1960s further expanded the administrative state with agencies like the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
While these initiatives aimed to address urgent societal challenges, the rapid growth of the administrative state also introduced new problems. Over time, agencies accumulated overlapping functions, entrenched bureaucratic cultures, and immense regulatory authority, often operating with minimal oversight. This created a system where unelected officials wield significant power, raising concerns about accountability and efficiency.
Symptoms of the Administrative State’s Growth
Bureaucratic Inefficiency: Overlapping agency functions and outdated programs waste resources and complicate governance.
Regulatory Overreach: Agencies wield immense power, often prioritizing industry interests or bureaucratic inertia over public welfare.
Public Distrust: Citizens view the government as bloated, unresponsive, and detached from their needs.
The High Cost of Inaction
Without reform, the administrative state will continue to sap public trust and hinder America’s ability to address pressing challenges. Agencies will struggle to adapt to new priorities, while inefficiencies will compound, straining taxpayer resources and undermining the government’s legitimacy.
To overcome these challenges, we must first reclaim the integrity of our vote, restoring the legislative branch’s ability to represent the electorate effectively. With a reinvigorated legislature, we can then implement transformative reforms like Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB) to ensure the administrative state operates efficiently and remains accountable to the people it serves.
Step 1: Suggestions for Reclaiming the Vote
Next are several suggestions for reclaiming voting power for American citizens. These suggestions are intended to return the direct connection between the voting majority and the representatives they elect.
Eliminate the Primary and Caucus (P&C) System
Revert to Party-Based Candidate Selection: Return candidate selection to political parties, where nominees are vetted based on qualifications, broad appeal, and alignment with majority interests.
Adopt Nonpartisan Primaries: Implement open primaries, as seen in Alaska, allowing all candidates to compete on a single ballot regardless of party affiliation. The top candidates advance to the general election, fostering more moderate and broadly appealing options.
Candidate checks and balances: Enable political parties to act as quality-control filters, ensuring candidates meet high standards of qualification and are aligned with the party’s mission. This two-filter approach, combining electoral and professional perspectives, would balance extremes and better represent the electorate.
Encourage Ranked-Choice Voting (RCV)
RCV allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference, reducing the influence of extreme factions by ensuring that winning candidates reflect majority support. This system promotes collaboration and discourages negative campaigning.
Introduce Legislative Mandates for Electoral Reform
Congress should pass legislation requiring reforms to the primary and general election processes, prioritizing systems that better represent the will of the majority. This includes exploring hybrid approaches, such as combining party vetting with ranked-choice voting.
Promote Civic Education and Engagement
Empower voters with knowledge about how their vote impacts the political process and why reforms are necessary. Grassroots campaigns, educational initiatives, and media outreach can build momentum for change.
Strengthen Transparency and Oversight
Ensure election processes are transparent, with independent oversight to prevent manipulation and ensure trust in the outcomes. This includes public reporting on campaign financing and candidate selection processes.
By implementing these reforms, America can reclaim the vote, empower the majority, and create a more representative and effective democracy. It is important to emphasize that the primary focus is restoring the voting majority's voice, which is the key challenge in need of correction. At the same time, our democracy is designed to safeguard against the "tyranny of the majority" through the Bill of Rights and a system of checks and balances that protect minority interests. Reempowering the majority vote assumes these minority protections will remain firmly in place.
Step 2: Rein in the Administrative State with ZBB
Once Congress is strengthened, it must address the administrative state’s inefficiencies by mandating Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB). As a point of clarification, some form of administrative state is likely necessary given the sheer size and complexity of the United States. Next is a suggestion for better governing the administrative state given its necessity.
Under ZBB, federal agencies would start each fiscal year from a “zero base,” justifying every expense rather than relying on prior allocations. This approach would:
Eliminate Waste: Agencies would be forced to reassess outdated or redundant programs, freeing resources for critical priorities.
Enhance Accountability: Regular reviews would ensure that spending aligns with agency missions and public needs.
Promote Efficiency: Consolidating overlapping functions and embracing technological advancements would streamline operations.
Case Study: ZBB at the SEC
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) illustrates how ZBB can transform an agency:
Starting from Zero: The SEC reviewed every program, identifying areas of overlap and redundancy.
Justifying Every Expense: Each division had to demonstrate its value, ensuring resources were allocated to mission-critical functions.
Prioritizing Key Activities: Essential tasks like enforcement and market transparency received increased funding, while outdated initiatives were scaled back or eliminated.
For readers interested in a detailed breakdown of how ZBB could be implemented at the SEC, Jeff Hulett’s article offers step-by-step recommendations. However, the broader point remains: ZBB could serve as a powerful tool to reposition government bureaucracies to better support American citizens by improving efficiency, reducing waste, and ensuring agencies align with their missions.
Overcoming Challenges
While this two-step solution offers a clear path forward, implementing it will require overcoming significant hurdles:
Entrenched Interests: Political insiders and bureaucratic leaders may resist reforms that threaten their influence.
Public Awareness: Educating citizens about the importance of these changes is essential to building momentum for action.
Sustained Commitment: Both reforms require long-term oversight to ensure they achieve their intended goals. As it stands now, we have a "fox guarding the hen house" challenge. Meaning, that those needing to make changes -- party leadership -- are the very ones benefitting from the current system.
Despite these challenges, the benefits of reclaiming the vote and reforming the administrative state far outweigh the costs. Together, these actions will restore democratic accountability and lay the foundation for a more effective government.
The order of operations is essential to achieving these outcomes. Reclaiming the vote strengthens the legislative branch by empowering lawmakers to truly represent the electorate’s interests, rather than being beholden to party leadership or ideologically extreme factions. A strengthened legislative branch will attract legislators empowered to negotiate and collaborate to create an inspiring future for our country. A revitalized legislature, operating at full capacity, is then better positioned to enact robust reforms, such as mandating Zero-Based Budgeting (ZBB), to ensure the administrative state is both efficient and accountable. Without first addressing the vote, attempts to reform the bureaucracy risk being undermined by a weakened Congress unable to assert its constitutional role.
Conclusion
America’s democracy is at a critical juncture. Our democracy CAN work, but only if we remove constitutional distortions blocking our democracy. The vote, once the bedrock of representation, has been weakened by a system prioritizing party-enabled minority interests over the majority. Meanwhile, the unchecked growth of the administrative state has fostered inefficiency and eroded public trust. These twin challenges threaten the nation’s ability to govern effectively and address its most pressing issues.
The solution lies in a two-step approach: first, reclaiming the vote by undoing the 1972 P&C reforms, and second, using a strengthened legislature to mandate Zero-Based Budgeting across federal agencies. By addressing these root causes, America can restore the balance of power, rebuild trust in its institutions, and ensure a government that works for all citizens. The time for action is now—before the challenges of today become the crises of tomorrow.
Resources for the Curious
Hulett, Jeff. "Your Vote Does Not Matter as Much as It Should!" The Curiosity Vine, 2022.
Hulett, Jeff. Unhack the Vote: How the Vote Got Hacked and What We Can Do About It. The Curiosity Vine, 2024.
Hulett, Jeff. The Big Pivot: How a Well-Intended Political Rule Change Weakened Our Vote. The Curiosity Vine, 2021.
Hulett, Jeff. "Zero-Based Budgeting: A Bold Path to Reinventing America’s Bureaucracy State." The Curiosity Vine, 2024.
Wilson, Woodrow. The Study of Administration. Political Science Quarterly, 1887.
Madison, James. The Federalist Papers: No. 10. 1787.
Adams, John. The Complete Works of John Adams: Autobiography, Discourses on Davila, Essays on the Constitution, Essays and Controversial Papers of the Revolution. Edited by Charles Francis Adams, Little, Brown and Company, 1856.
Brookings Institution. "Voters Need Help: How Party Insiders Can Make Presidential Primaries Safer, Fairer, and More Democratic." 2020.
Levin, Yuval. American Covenant: How the Constitution Unified Our Nation—and Could Again. 2024.
Levitsky, Steven, and Daniel Ziblatt. How Democracies Die. 2018.
Congressional Budget Office. "Options for Reducing the Deficit: Fiscal Years 2021 to 2030." 2020.
Mercatus Center. "Bureaucratic Budgeting: The Case for Zero-Based Budgeting in the Federal Government." 2020.
Pew Research Center. "Public Trust in Government: 1958-2021." 2021.
Osborne, David, and Ted Gaebler. Reinventing Government: How the Entrepreneurial Spirit is Transforming the Public Sector. 1992.
Harvard Business Review. "How Zero-Based Budgeting Can Help Companies Weather Recession." 2020.
Porter, Michael, and Katherine Gehl. The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy. 2020.
Taleb, Nassim Nicholas. Skin in the Game: The Hidden Asymmetries in Daily Life. 2018.
Solow, Robert. Ninety-Eight Years of Economic Wisdom. Interview, 2023.
U.S. Government Accountability Office. "Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication in Federal Programs." 2021.
deSilver, Drew. "Turnout in This Year’s U.S. House Primaries Rose Sharply." Pew Research Center, 2018.
Heritage Foundation. "Reducing Bureaucratic Bloat: A Case for Government Budget Reforms." 2018.
White House Office of Management and Budget. "Budget of the U.S. Government: Fiscal Year 2022." 2022.
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