"As you might imagine, the word "democracy" has been mentioned in Congressional speeches many times, but over the past several years it has grown much more common to speak about democracy as under threat."
"For the Pudding, Alvin Chang analyzed speeches in the Congressional Record dating back to 1880, highlighting the abrupt shift in sentiment."
Speeches in the Congressional Record dating back to 1880 reveal a marked change in how 'democracy' is referenced. Historically, the term appeared frequently without being framed as endangered. Over the past several years, mentions of democracy have not only increased but are more often accompanied by language portraying democracy as under threat. Quantitative analysis of speech transcripts shows an abrupt shift in sentiment, with contemporary rhetoric emphasizing vulnerability, crisis, and defense of democratic institutions. The recent pattern represents a notable departure from prior decades' usage and signals rising concern among congressional speakers about the health of democratic governance.
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