Discuss the Extent to Which Different Legislatures Control the Work of the Executive.

This written report is appertaining to the book How Congress Works and Why You Should Care, written by Lee H. Hamilton. This book is published by Indiana University Press in Bloomington, IL, it was copyrighted in 2004 by the publisher.

Being a part of Congress is one of the most powerful political positions in America. Congress is made up of the House of Representative and Senate for a grand total of 535 members. While that may not give give an individual power, it gives the large group so much power to do many things and even override the president on certain occasions. Most decisions they make need a ⅔ vote from the group. Congress many other powers, maybe too much power. Congress has too much power because of its expressed powers, implied/inherent powers, and its “voting powers”.

Since Congressional committees are ultimate decision makers, perceive that their staff individuals can have the critical impact over the course and content of legislation. Constituents are asked to keep up continuous contacts with these people, particularly subcommittee staff and the lawmakers' about particular authoritative helpers. These congressional meetings are very powerful because they also carry out legislations processes such as authorizing legislation, appropriation of bills, and entitlement legislation. Authorizing legislation is a bill that makes another government program, expands the life of a current program, or nullifications existing law. Approving bills generally set a point of confinement on the measure of assets that can

Throughout history, there have been many factors that seem to have influenced the operations of Congress. Some of these factors have been the committee system, seniority, and political parties. These are only a few of the factors that actually have an influence on Congress’s decisions of certain operations.

The inter workings of Congress have been studied extensively by Richard Fenno and David R. Mayhew. Mayhew’s study of Congress took place in Washington, while Richard Fenno conducted his research by following politicians within their congressional district. Mayhew attributes three primary goals to congressmen- getting reelected, achieving influence within Congress and making “good Policy”. Fenno also attributes three basic goals, having influence inside the House than other congressmen. Second, helping their constituents and thereby insuring their reelection, and lastly helping make good policy. The purpose of this paper is to research a member of Congress and to make a direct connection between his activity in Washington and his home district. The paper will answer whether the congressmen is a delegate or trustee. Are the actions a pursuit for reelection? Are the committee assignments a path for movement within the House or outside? What legislation has he/she sponsored or co-sponsored and does it directly reflect his/her districts political view. And finally, do major industries and interest groups within his/she district affect the way he/she votes.

American politics is often defined by a continuing power conflict between the executive and the legislative branches of the government. This struggle for political power between the two stronger branches of the three is inherent in the Constitution, itself. The concepts of separation of powers and checks and balances ensure that the branches of government will remain in conflict and provide a balance that keeps the entire government under control. As it was first established, the executive branch was much smaller and weaker than as we know it today. Consequently, the legislative branch was unquestionably dominant. Over the course of history, the executive branch grew in both size and power to the point where it occasionally overtook the

In “Congressional Government”, Woodrow Wilson tries to explain the system of Congress and in it he thoroughly discusses the predominance of Congressional Committees in the legislative body. He argues that our legislature is more analogous to a conglomerate, not a homogenous body and that “we are ruled by a score and a half of ‘little legislatures’”(Wilson p. 323). There is little unity in the House and party organization is not strong according to Wilson. The many distinct, disconnected committees has leads Congress to have weak leadership and therefore decreases decision making. Also Wilson shows how multiple committee jurisdictions creates a system where there is no clear voice on the issue and since committees differ in political ideology broad questions of policy suffer. Lawrence C. Dodd also discusses the committee system in “Congress and the Quest for Power”. In it, he argues that the solution to congressmen’s need for power is a decentralized congress with a committee system that allows members to gain considerable power in their small committees. “Each member wants to exercise power, to make the key policy decisions. … Given this widespread power motive, an obvious way to resolve the conflict is to disperse power”(Dodd p. 335). Dodd argues that the solution to member Congress constantly seeking power is the current

Congress is perhaps the most despised branch in our government. It is widely considered broken and outdated, and many believe it ignores the wants of the American people. In this paper, I will discuss Congress in depth and shed light on this controversial branch.

In the world of politics, the powers of the Legislative branch are crucial in the system of checks and balances in our government. According to the U.S. Constitution, the Legislative branch or better known as Congress, is responsible for making laws. Though trusted with this power, Congress does not effectively execute this action due to their inability to work together and make decisions on bills. Due to this indecisiveness, Congress is constantly being slammed in the media and is beginning to be referred to as the immature branch of government. Their indecisiveness is also dissatisfying American citizens making many citizens hold them in contempt because of them not doing their job.

The legislative powers of the British Prime Minister are far superior to the American President “ despite the efforts of opposition parties, the majority [in the House of Commons] has little incentive to do anything other than cheerlead (or occasionally carp at) the Prime Minister and his or her ministerial team” (Heffernan, 2005:59)

However, Wilson, for instance, claims that the processes carried by committees are secret in nature and “as mean of legislation, dangerous and unwholesome” (p. 188). He argues that this nature does not resemble a structure where problems are taken care of efficiently, but allows decisions to be highly influenced by just one individual. Nevertheless, Connelly counterarguments that regardless of the claims that congress is broken because it involves partisanship, special interests, among others “[p]artisanship is also rooted in the Constitution” (p.197). Seemly, the Founders were looking to create an institution that would be able to contemplate as many prospects as possible before passing a legislature and possible to law. In fact, Connelly mentions this when he says the separation of powers promotes “innovation and deliberation because [it] both humbles and empowers Democrats and Republicans, majority and minority parties, presidents and Congress, though at different times and on different issues” (p.

Committees in Congress are not in the constitution, however they have become a vital aspect the Congress functioning today and hold considerable power and influence in their respective chambers. They have become so powerful as a reaction against the dictatorial like rule of the speaker of the house in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, this concerned people because it decentralized legislation and allowed for committee chairs to obtain power and influence. As of 1994, the committees themselves have had their power reduced, while still being considerable due to Republican speakers curbing their power. Committees are necessary to modern Congress, and if there were not committees, policy making would grind to a halt and would be significantly worse than the current system despite its flaws. First is why committees are so powerful in the first place and how

I think that the power between the president and Congress in the USA is similar. Because the USA’s politics are the most democracy in the world. so the government in the USA divide into the president and congress.

The four institutions include: Congress, Executive, Judiciary, and the Bureaucracy. All four pieces of the institutions work together make sure the country can function. With each individual institution with their unique functions checking and balancing over one another they all keep the country steady.

The two chambers can, and often do, reject the president's pet proposals. They frequently write and pass legislation that the president opposes, daring the chief executive either to veto it or seek a compromise.