Final answer:
Compared to the rest of American history, recent congresses have been more polarized and less productive in terms of passing laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Recent congresses have been more polarized and less productive in terms of passing laws compared to other periods in American history. The increased polarization is apparent in the decline of moderates within both major political parties and the rise of more ideologically extreme members who are less willing to compromise. This has been accompanied by a decrease in legislative productivity, with significant declines in the number of pieces of substantive legislation passed by Congress, such as the 113th Congress (2013-2015), which passed only 165 pieces of legislation, a historical low in the post-WWII era. The drop in effectiveness can partly be attributed to the increased polarization and the resulting gridlock that makes passing laws more challenging.