Constitution gave Congress the power of legislation. In fact, its major function is to make laws. Essentially, Congress converts public will into public policy by way of law. The Constitution provides some rules to which Congress must adhere throughout the legislative process however; over the years there have been additions and modifications to the procedure. Currently, there is debate over how to reform the legislative process.
The general legislative process is set forth in the Constitution. However, as with other aspects of government, the Framers purposely structured it in this manner so as to allow the American people an opportunity to fill in the details of the outline. One of the most important powers delegated to the House is the ability to raise revenue. The Constitution states that a bill must be approved in both chambers and then presented to the president. In the case of a presidential veto, Congress may override it with a two-thirds vote in each house. Additionally, the Constitution states that a bill not returned to Congress by the president within ten days is automatically enacted into law.
The current lawmaking process involves several steps, incorporating both Constitutional decrees in addition to subsequent modifications. It usually begins when a member of Congress presents a bill, which is essentially a proposal, to its respective chamber. There are public bills and private bills. The former are national or universal whereas the latter are sectional and particular. In both chambers, the bill then is read by clerks and recorded in a log. Next, it is referred to a standing committee then a subcommittee that studies, revises, and approves the bill. The subcommittee presents it to the full committee and the bill undergoes the same process of deliberation and revision. In the House, the Rules Committee establishes the rules under which the bill will be debated and amended on the floor. After passing through these steps, both chambers take floor action, which means that the bill is debated, amended, passed, or defeated. If it is passed, a conference committee of members from both houses convenes with the purpose of resolving discrepancies between the two versions of the bill. Then, it is submitted to its respective chamber for final approval. Finally, the president receives a copy of the bill, which he/she can either sign into law or veto. Should the president veto the bill, Congress can override his/her decision with a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers.
The two party system is important in today's legislative process, as it requires both sides to compromise throughout the whole procedure. In other words, in order to avoid a stalemate Republicans and Democrats alike must be willing to engage in the process of 'give and take'. Furthermore, political parties are important media through which legislation is organized. Most importantly, political parties can influence legislation as the most heavily represented party in Congress commands, to some degree, the legislature.
As already mentioned, proposals for legislative reform abound. Some believe that voting and budgeting procedures should be more open and fair than current practices. This includes allowing the public to view Congressional meetings. Others support a reduction in the number of committees in both chambers, which logically involves decreasing support staff. Naturally, taxes are a source of concern; many want to make it more difficult for Congress to increase taxes. Furthermore, some wish to impose term limits on Congressional members. Although there are numerous suggestions for legislative reform, only the future will reveal if such proposals are incorporated into the ever-evolving American system of government.
Essay Two
The presidential election process contains an important aspect that is commonly misunderstood by millions of Americans. When voting for a presidential candidate, citizens are actually choosing presidential electors who are collectively known as the Electoral College. The members of the Electoral College then cast their vote for the presidential candidate. It is this indirect voting system that determines the outcome of presidential elections.
In the hypothetical situation provided, candidate A, a Democrat, received 233 electoral votes, which is 43.3% of the total popular vote. Candidate B, a Republican, secured 272 electoral votes or 50.5% of the total popular vote. Finally, the Independent, candidate C, received 33 electoral votes, which translates into .06% of the cumulative popular vote. Based on these calculations, candidate B. won the election as he/she holds the majority of the electoral votes.
The concern over 'faithless electors' has probably existed since the inception of the Electoral College. An electors is supposed to vote for his party's candidate. Therefore, a 'faithless elector' is one who votes for another party's candidate. This usually occurs when an elector knows that his/her vote will not affect the outcome of the election; he/she typically does it to make a statement. The 'faithless elector' may choose a candidate that reflects his/her...
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