The United State Congress: Does It Work?
After declaring themselves free from British rule in 1776, the American people sought out a way to protect themselves from future tyrannical monarchs as the nation continued to grow and develop. This led to the creation of the three branches of government, one of which was the United States Congress, in order to decentralize power and ensure that the voice of the people is appropriately factored in legislative decisions. However, many have questioned whether this two hundred-year-old system still works today, as the number of citizens who trust the government steadily decreases. In his book How Congress Works and Why You Should Care, Lee Herbert Hamilton, a former member of the House of Representatives, …show more content…
After all, it is well known that a majority of politicians come from educated and fairly wealthy backgrounds. Hamilton argues that “Although further progress is needed, Congress is still one of the most representative institutions in the country. This change has directly affected congressional policymaking” (Hamilton, 47). He references the rise of female members in Congress and how they’ve pushed issues such as gender discrimination and family matters into the limelight (Hamilton, 47). Despite the inclusion of a small number of women and minorities into the political field, some will say that there is still a lack of representation in Congress. How can a group of elite, affluent, and largely white politicians possibly understand the problems facing every type of American …show more content…
Many people believe that these are a few of the many reasons why Congress seems sluggish and take very little action. According to Hamilton, this is not the case: “... one of Congress’s roles is to act on behalf of the American people as the guardian of our guardians: slowing things down when needed, requiring that fewer decisions be made in secret, guarding against unchecked powers” (Hamilton, 23). Perhaps the framers of the Constitution made Congress, and the government in extension, slightly less efficient to provoke thought, all in order allow rationalization, and to allow heated tempers to simmer down before an emotionally charged law becomes set in stone. It’s a thorough process that diminishes the likelihood of a short-lived law being passed. A prime example of this can be seen in Donald Trump’s attempt to keep one of his most important campaign promises: Executive Order 13780, titled “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States”. Though the court allowed a limited version of the travel ban to come into effect, it was edited to allow foreigners with a direct relationship with a person in the US to enter the country, a compromise made between the conservative and liberal justices (Board). There is also a reason why it is temporary; if