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Essay / The analysis of “How Congress Works and Why You Should Care” written by Lee Hamilton
How Congress Works and Why You Should Care, written by Lee Hamilton, presents the functions and vital role of the American Congress. The founding fathers introduced a representative democracy with three branches of government with equal powers. The creation of Congress was one of the most important institutions of the American government: it created laws, enacted taxes, and provided for the common defense and general welfare of the United States. Currently, many citizens mistakenly believe that Congress does very little and does not function well. Lee Hamilton discusses areas where Congress can work better and where the American people can be more involved. Congress provides balance in the federal government and reflects diversity, but there is a need to change some areas of its processes in order to increase civic participation and approval ratings in the United States. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay One area of constant outcry for reform is campaign finance laws. Lobbying and campaign donations are essential to running for Congress. A phrase used by pundits when evaluating political races is "follow the money." If the races are close, the one (candidate) who raised the most money usually wins. The cost of running for political office has skyrocketed. Running for U.S. Senate, for example, can cost up to $6 million or more. The American people are beginning to doubt their favorite candidates, convinced that they will only meet the needs of the biggest donors. Lee Hamilton describes the campaign process: “Our lack of effective voting laws in this country represents a major failure of American public policy. “It distracts from MPs, makes races less competitive, and raises doubts about the integrity of the legislative process.” Hamilton describes the problems with the campaign process when money is supreme. To address this problem, Hamilton suggests providing full disclosure of campaign contributions and having partial public financing of congressional elections. Once the American people understand how money influences the processes of our government, they will agree with Hamilton. His solution levels the playing field so that powerful interest groups cannot control elected officials. This open process will actually support the general public who do not believe their needs are being met. After an election, Congress begins its work with current crises. In describing the busy schedules of civil servants, Lee Hamilton recalled asking Tony Lake – President Clinton's national security adviser – about his work: “These files all deserve immediate attention. They can't wait," he replied. Then I noticed an even bigger rug, probably twice as high, piled behind him. "These," he said, "are "extremely urgent." This shows that daily problems overwhelm the government and that it cannot easily envisage future challenges. Not only do daily challenges overwhelm government officials, but surveillance also controls Parliament. members of Congress to investigate their fellow lawmakers and the president At present, Donald Trump's allegations regarding Russian involvement..