Congress only falls into "periods of internal leaderlessness" because (1) it doesn’t matter so much when it does because Congress is relatively powerless (compa

Congress only falls into "periods of internal leaderlessness" because (1) it doesn’t matter so much when it does because Congress is relatively powerless (compared to a Westminster system Parliament), and (2) there is no mechanism to trigger an early election (again unlike the Westminister system) If the US adopted a parliamentary system, then Congress would have to nominate a Prime Minister – and if it failed to do so within a reasonable period, it would be dissolved and a new election would be held for it. Fear of having to face the voters again is a great motivator for legislators to get their act together – especially since voters rarely take kindly to being called upon to vote again so soon.