I see where you are coming from, but Congress fails to assert itself against near-permanent hack-leviathans inside government and beyond government that feed on government action/inaction because there is such limited willingness in Congress to lead and risk a return to a life not involving government. For those elected, it's politically safer to not rock the boat too much than rock it a lot, which is why there is no willingness to step out from beyond the notion of operating within the boundaries of polls [and the consequence on the election process, primaries included] and the desires of various hacks in the near-permanent establishment that feeds on government in some way or another to maintain power.

There's always been a sort of natural conflict upon whether or not the role of elected officials is to directly represent the constituents or is to independently apply judgment decision power for the constituents. If it was purely about direct representation of constituents, we might as well have a lot more popular referendums and have it applicable to every legislative item since we have the technology to do that if the desire is there for that. [I just wouldn't count on the political or bureaucratic classes and their feeder-ons in and beyond government to really make that happen, regardless of whatever public pronouncements may be made for or against such a transition.]

Until a lot more in Congress -- staff included -- are willing to risk their jobs by leading rather than following, change in this regard is going to remain one very uphill battle. The Courts are the hope until the excesses get far greater than they are already.