American Government: The Congress and the President

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American Government
Question 1
A) The structure of the legislative branch in the United States was designed by the founding fathers with the aim of addressing their fears of concentration of power and potential tyranny. The founding fathers had experienced the oppressive rule of the British monarchy and wanted to establish a system that would prevent such abuses of power. From the text, “The king, Jefferson charged, had taxed the colonists without the consent of their elected representatives, interfered with their trade, denied them the right to trial by jury, and deprived them of their right to self-government. Such intrusions on their rights could not be tolerated” (Krutz and Waskiewicz, 2.1). To address their concerns, the founding fathers implemented a system of checks and balances, which divided the powers of government among three separate branches, the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The legislative branch, consisting of the Congress, was specifically structured to prevent the accumulation of too much power in any one body.
B) The different houses in Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives, facilitate better representation by ensuring a combination of proportional and equal representation. Under the great compromise, “Each state, regardless of size, would have two senators, making for equal representation as in the New Jersey Plan. Representation in the House would be based on population” (Krutz and Waskiewicz, 2.1). Therefore, the House of Representatives is designed to provide representation based on population. The number of representatives each state receives is based on its population size. On the other hand, the Senate provides equal representation for each state, regardless of population size. Consequently, Congress achieves a system of representation that balances both the popular will and the interests of individual states.
C) The term given to Congress's ability to check the executive branch is congressional oversight or “congressional check" (Krutz and Waskiewicz, 15.4). This power is rooted in the system of checks and balances established by the Constitution, which aims to prevent any branch of government from becoming too powerful or acting without accountability.
D) An example of an issue that demonstrates inefficiency in one house of Congress is the passage of comprehensive infrastructure legislation. The issue has been delayed in the House of Representatives, hindering efficiency in addressing a critical national issue. Delays and uncertainties in the legislative process not only impede the efficient allocation of resources but also create uncertainty for businesses and individuals who depend on infrastructure investments for economic growth and development.
Question 2
A) The link between representation and the current landscape of Congress is a complex and controversial topic. Determining whether Congress adequately represents the people is subjective and varies depending on perspectives and specific issues. For example, in terms of demographic representation, “Congress has become much more descriptively representative of the United States” (Krutz ...