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Congress

“One of the standing jokes of Congress is that the new Congressman always spends the first week wondering how he got there and the rest of the time wondering how the other members got there”.

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Congress

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  1. “One of the standing jokes of Congress is that the new Congressman always spends the first week wondering how he got there and the rest of the time wondering how the other members got there” "I believe if we introduced the Lord's Prayer here, senators would propose a large number of amendments to it." “In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm, and three or more is a congress.” "If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?" Wilson: Chapter 11 Congress The only difference between death and taxes is that death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.

  2. The Legislative Branch • 1st in the Constitution • Why did the Framers create a “Congress”, with a separate executive, rather than a Parliament? • The wheels of Congress: slow, for a reason? • Congressional (dis)approval • Why is it that people hate Congress, but like their MoC?

  3. Consider: What are the pros and cons of the US “presidential” system vis-à-vis the Parliamentary system? AP Government and Politics Chapter 11: Wilson Congress and Parliaments Homework: Assignment 2 for Monday

  4. Congress’ and Parliaments • *Key difference is in HOW one is elected and what one DOES while in office. • How they are elected: • Congress: chosen to run in primaries, elected by name • Parliament: chosen to run by parties, elected either by name or by party nationwide • What they do in office: • Congress: individual strong, laws made by all members • Parliament: Party strong, laws drafted by party and debated by members

  5. Presidents and Prime Ministers **Difference usually found in how the person is elected, and who they are answerable to. • In US, president (elected by people) is separate and powerful; both chief executive and head of the government • No prime minister • In UK, no president; prime minister is head of government (elected by Parliament) • Royal family is head of state • In Israel, president is elected by Parliament but is ceremonial head of state; Prime Minister (nominated by President) chosen by Parliament is chief executive • In France; president is most powerful (directly elected) and appoints the PM; Parliament can dissolve PM’s gov.

  6. Prime Minister’s Questions Prime minister's questions (PMQs; officially Questions to the Prime Minister) is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom that takes place every Wednesday (when the House of Commons is sitting) during which the prime minister spends half an hour answering questions from members of parliament (MPs). PMQs forms an important part of British political culture and, due to the natural drama of the sessions, it is the most well-known piece of Parliamentary business in the United Kingdom with tickets to the Strangers' Gallery (public gallery) for Wednesdays being the most sought-after parliamentary tickets. • Should the US president be subject to the same requirement each week? http://www.c-span.org/Events/Prime-Minister39s-Question-Time/10737435455/ http://www.c-span.org/Events/Prime-Minister39s-Question-Time/10737435455/

  7. The Evolution of Congress • Biggest complaint is that Congress is ineffective or unrepresentative • To counter this, centralization could occur, but that would limit debate, the power of individual members • More power for members (and their constituencies) means less power for leaders, and more gridlock or slow movement • Congress has undergone shifts from power of leadership, to power of committees, to power of members, back to power of leaders • House is too big to run efficiently if members are individually too powerful; • Senate is small enough to run well without changes in leadership spheres • Biggest debate for years was how members would be chosen, not who would run the institution

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