I don't know much about law, but isn't it much easier to keep the broad principles short and sweet but the nuts and bolts it takes a lot longer to spell out. Think ancient hebrew law.....10 commandments (very short) Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.... (very VERY long) just saying....that said, I think there needs to be some sort of pledge that all congressmen and congresswomen sign to say they have read the bill they are voting for in full....that might keep the length down a tad.