Wilson’s classic work, Congressional Government, proves to be one of the most enjoyable reads in political science. While it is time bound in some small aspects its substance is timeless, and therefore correctly deserves the title of being a “classic.” As Wilson points out in the preface to the 15th edition, some of the facts and details have changed over time, but the substance of the work has not.
In the introduction Wilson paints a picture of the United States government that is very critical, if not all together cynical. The “literary theory” of perfect checks and balances is a myth, and the American people live under a constitution that is essentially different than the one that is vigorously worshipped. Referencing the Federalist Papers, the most important check outlined in the constitution is that between the state governments and the federal government. However, in reality this check is actually the least effectual. To illustrate this point Wilson states, “Federal courts can annul state action, but state courts cannot arrest the growth of congressional power,” (p. 24). The strength of congressional power is the backdrop of Wilson’s story. Congress has an “aggressive spirit” while the executive is almost irrelevant and the Supreme Court has no initiative. In order to understand the constitutional system that we live under, we must understand what Congress does.
Wilson spends three chapters discussing Congress, two on the House of Representatives and one on the Senate. His main focus is on the observation that congressional government is committee government. The legislative branch (especially the House) is a conglomerate, not a homogenous body, of committees that basically serve as “little legislatures.” ...
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... he never left Baltimore. While I agree with his overall analysis I cannot help but think there might be pieces of the picture missing. It is a study that makes claims without ever truly observing Congress in person. Additionally, Wilson writes in a time that is very different than today. His critiques on the Senate and the presidency are time-bound. The presidency is very different today than it use to be (this is why we refer to presidents in the last century as modern presidents) and new committees have been formed that make up for some inadequacies observed by Wilson. Despite these short-falls Congressional Government is a true classic that provides insight into both early government in the United States, and modern government in many aspects as well. Anyone who has any interest whatsoever in American politics should read this book.
Wilson had some important roles in World War I that took a tole on his health. Just the fact of being a president is enough pressure. What stands out most after much research is the fact of how much he wanted peace. One would not underestimate by saying he spent his life by trying to have world peace. He was a remarkable president and benefited our nation tremendously by his works.
The excerpt “Congress: The Electoral Connection” written by David Mayhew centers around the fundamental arguments that discusses how members of congress are self-interested for reelection. Mayhew further elaborates on his idea by discussing the electoral activities that congress members devote their time into and resource from, which are advertising, credit-claiming, and position taking. Mayhew’s excerpt further examines the framework in how congress operates which contributes to the explanation of how and why congress partakes in the certain electoral activities.
Madison speaks of the problems of the present attempts at a new government saying “our governments are too unstable, that the public good is disregarded in the conflicts of rival parties, and that measures are too often decided, not according to the rules of justice, and the rights of the minor party, but by the superior force of an interested and over-bearing majority”.
Davidson, Roger H., Walter J. Oleszek, and Frances E. Lee. Congress and Its Members. Washington, D.C.: CQ, 2009. Print.
Link starts his book by giving details on Wilson’s life starting in Staunton, Virginia on December 29, 1856 when Wilson was born.(Link.pg1) Wilson was a scholar. He attended Davidson College and Princeton University. Next, he attended University of Virginia where he studied law. Finally, Wilson studied political science and history at John Hopkins University. Next, with his numerous degrees and extensive knowledge, Wilson taught at a verity of universities between 1885 and 1902, as well as being the dean of a graduate school in 1910. (Link.pg1). Finally in 1912 Wilson ran for president of the United States and won.
...eparates congress into the House and Senate. This further provides internal checks on legislative branch. Likewise, in the political science lecture of the Introduction to Political Thought and Theory in the March, Professor Al Schendan explains these structures as the necessary for liberty.
...essives, they still recognized the utility of local government. In that sense, the Wilsonian system was the most integrated. The political parties were broad organizations, spanning from local to national politics and hopefully fostering some sort of interconnectivity. Wilson acknowledged the danger and rigidity of a two-party system, but also realized that parties would balance a government's tendency to accumulate excessive amounts of power. The individual was able to engage himself in politics, but the functionality of the Federal Government was never impeded upon. Somehow, Wilson had nearly resolved the differences that had been plaguing American politics for the preceding century. He was the first president to recognize that he possessed two responsibilities as a party leader and policy-maker and that is why his system was so admirable, enduring and emulated.
During the construction of the new Constitution, many of the most prominent and experienced political members of America’s society provided a framework on the future of the new country; they had in mind, because of the failures of the Articles of Confederation, a new kind of government where the national or Federal government would be the sovereign power, not the states. Because of the increased power of the national government over the individual states, many Americans feared it would hinder their ability to exercise their individual freedoms. Assuring the people, both Alexander Hamilton and James Madison insisted the new government under the constitution was “an expression of freedom, not its enemy,” declaring “the Constitution made political tyranny almost impossible.” (Foner, pg. 227) The checks and balances introduced under the new and more powerful national government would not allow the tyranny caused by a king under the Parliament system in Britain. They insisted that in order achieve a greater amount of freedom, a national government was needed to avoid the civil unrest during the system under the Articles of Confederation. Claiming that the new national government would be a “perfect balance between liberty and power,” it would avoid the disruption that liberty [civil unrest] and power [king’s abuse of power in England] caused. The “lackluster leadership” of the critics of the new constitution claimed that a large land area such as America could not work for such a diverse nation.
Congress and the nation: 1945-1964 A review of government and politics in the postwar years.
The United States of America is one of the most powerful nation-states in the world today. The framers of the American Constitution spent a great deal of time and effort into making sure this power wasn’t too centralized in one aspect of the government. They created three branches of government to help maintain a checks and balance system. In this paper I will discuss these three branches, the legislative, the executive, and the judicial, for both the state and federal level.
In the first two decades of the twentieth century the national political scene reflected a growing American belief in the ideas of the Progressive movement. This movement was concerned with fundamental social and economic reforms and gained in popularity under two presidents. Yet Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson espoused two different approaches to progressive reform. And each one was able to prevail upon congress to pass legislation in keeping with his own version of the progressive dream. These two people, although they had different principles in mind, had one goal: to make changes to the nation for the better of the people and the country. Setting out to reach this goal, Roosevelt came to be a president of the common man while Wilson became the “better” progressive president.
The following paper will discuss the branches of the United States government. The paper will include reasons why our forefathers divided the government into the legislative, judicial, and presidential branches; how the branches interact with each other and how the braches are balanced in power. This paper will also discuss the success of the three branches and how conflict arose between supporters of a strong federal government versus supporters of states’ rights. Finally, the paper will include possible suggestions of different efficiency designs along the way.
Wilson’s perception of a necessary League of Nations and his ever present stubbornness weren’t the only factors in Wilson’s demise, he also was unable to predict failure brought on by an exclusively Democratic group of diplomatic advisors. Wilson completely excluded the Republicans when he failed to communicate with the Senate Majority Leader and the head of the Senate Committee of Foreign Affairs, Henry Cabot Lodge. A man Wilson could’ve potentially brought a...
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 legislative and today rivals the legislative in a much closer political battle. Today both branches have major factors that contribute to their power, but on the whole the legislative remains the lastingly dominant branch.
Wilson makes a comparison between the government systems of America and Europe and his intentions were not necessarily for America to do the same as Europe, but for us to explore and research other governments and public administrations, so that we can analyze and master our own. It is questionable why other governments have been more successful with certain matters than our own here in America. Wilson expresses relevant concerns and arguments that government systems should be further studied and improved as, it is crucial and ultimately beneficial to the nation and it’s