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Executive branch is overpowered partially because the senate refuses to do its job. The original intent was for the senate to be slower moving and "cool" house

Executive branch is overpowered partially because the senate refuses to do its job. The original intent was for the senate to be slower moving and "cool" house legislation leading to slower moving governing structures. Over time, the executive branch was given additional power to "get stuff done", and we find ourselves in the situation we have today.

gaukes 6y ago
On the other hand.. the overreach of the executive branch is a response to the political deadlock in the legislative branch. If we end up in a situation where neither branch can respond quickly and effectively, that may be worse than what we have now.
- gwright 6y ago
  I don't think most of it is "overreach" as more often than not Congress is explicitly ceding authority to the executive branch. That isn't to say there isn't "overreach".
- linuxftw 6y ago
  > the overreach of the executive branch is a response to the political deadlock in the legislative branch. Disagree. The political deadlock of the legislative branch is by design. Only things that are truly broadly supported should pass through the legislature. The overreach of the executive branch is a response to complete and utter inaction by the states to reign in the federal government.
vmception 6y ago
and apparently, direct election of senators in 1913's 17th amendment was supposed to be the patch now we are just out of solutions and too divided to get further patches in
umanwizard 6y ago
> the senate refuses to do its job It's not really the Senate's fault. Opposition parties almost never vote with government parties in any democratic legislature, so you shouldn't expect them to in the US. The real problem is the outdated system that is set up to (1) only allow two major parties to exist, so a European-style coalition government isn't possible, and (2) require both major parties to agree in order to pass any legislation.
- maxerickson 6y ago
  You are assuming the premise that following their party is doing their job. That's horseshit.
- tomp 6y ago
  Why outdated? Coronavirus stimulus pckage became law on 27th March in both the US and Germany (Europe’s model democracy). So it’s arguably a good thing, consensual things happen quickly, controversial things take a long time.
  - abvdasker 6y ago
    Look at the COVID-19 statistics in the US compared to almost every other country in the world and tell me that we have a functional federal government.
  - jessaustin 6y ago
    The laws may have passed on the same date, but they were not the same laws. In functioning democracies, laws passed in response to health and economic emergencies have something to do with health and economics. In USA, Congress just unanimously (well, except for Thomas Massie) gave rich people trillions of dollars.

gaukes 6y ago

On the other hand.. the overreach of the executive branch is a response to the political deadlock in the legislative branch. If we end up in a situation where neither branch can respond quickly and effectively, that may be worse than what we have now.

gwright 6y ago
I don't think most of it is "overreach" as more often than not Congress is explicitly ceding authority to the executive branch. That isn't to say there isn't "overreach".
linuxftw 6y ago
> the overreach of the executive branch is a response to the political deadlock in the legislative branch. Disagree. The political deadlock of the legislative branch is by design. Only things that are truly broadly supported should pass through the legislature. The overreach of the executive branch is a response to complete and utter inaction by the states to reign in the federal government.

vmception 6y ago

and apparently, direct election of senators in 1913's 17th amendment was supposed to be the patch now we are just out of solutions and too divided to get further patches in

umanwizard 6y ago

> the senate refuses to do its job It's not really the Senate's fault. Opposition parties almost never vote with government parties in any democratic legislature, so you shouldn't expect them to in the US. The real problem is the outdated system that is set up to (1) only allow two major parties to exist, so a European-style coalition government isn't possible, and (2) require both major parties to agree in order to pass any legislation.

maxerickson 6y ago
You are assuming the premise that following their party is doing their job. That's horseshit.
tomp 6y ago
Why outdated? Coronavirus stimulus pckage became law on 27th March in both the US and Germany (Europe’s model democracy). So it’s arguably a good thing, consensual things happen quickly, controversial things take a long time.
- abvdasker 6y ago
  Look at the COVID-19 statistics in the US compared to almost every other country in the world and tell me that we have a functional federal government.
- jessaustin 6y ago
  The laws may have passed on the same date, but they were not the same laws. In functioning democracies, laws passed in response to health and economic emergencies have something to do with health and economics. In USA, Congress just unanimously (well, except for Thomas Massie) gave rich people trillions of dollars.