POL S 202 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Signing Statement, Sole Power, Divided Government
Document Summary
Legislative branch - representatives are too focused on reelection than on lawmaking because of their short terms. Executive branch is ineffective in terms of how president is selected. No plans to help when government fails in a time of crisis, ex: great depression. Foreign affairs and policies are not so democratic because they only have to be approved by the majority of the senate rather than by both branches. Problems with the war powers act of 73: congress has lost its power. Senate is the only branch of government that can declare war on their own volition. Executive branch cannot declare war on their own, however they have sought more power in taking quick police actions around the world and congress has sort of submitted to this power. The original policy saying that congress had the sole power to take action has eroded over time since 9/11.