By: John Mark Shorack, Katherine Szetu, Ibis Almada, and Paul Ji.
The Law Making Process:
http://prezi.com/yilkolwtusp7/passing-a-law-in-congress/?kw=view-yilkolwtusp7&rc=ref-838012
Sources of information:
http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/legprocessflowchart.pdf
http://www.house.gov/content/learn/legislative_process/
http://www.slideshare.net/bmtoth/the-lawmaking-process
Dear Senator,
We believe that Congress has been doing a marvelous job considering all the discrepancies it had to overcome in order to make the laws that exist right now. However, we, as your constituents, do not feel that you are reaching your maximum potential due to you and your party’s selfish motives. When we voted for you, senator, we wanted a representative in Congress who would accurately fight for our beliefs instead of that of your political party. Can’t you see that this division in Congress is causing retardation in the lawmaking process?
That is why we believe that the Congress can undergo a major reformation. Lee Hamilton once stated that, “Extensive debate is written into the very structure of our congressional system… Our Founders understood the importance of conflict in the system, both as a way for all views to be represented, and as a process for building common ground among them.” We agree that all views and perspectives must be represented in the Congress, but the way in which the current legislative branch handle business is getting us nowhere.
Politicians are using cheap techniques like filibusters and other shady tactics to impede or put an end to certain bills merely because they do not have their opinions in it. The reason we elect officials in the first place is because it would take forever to make decisions if we had an election for every single reasonable bill that is to be passed. However, looking at the rate in which the Congress is making decisions, we believe that actually holding nation-wide elections would be a faster way to get things done. Please, if you do not want to lose your jobs, suck it up and deal with the differences that you might have with the opposing party and make some progress!
I agree with what Norman Ornstein said when he said that the politicians in the House and Senate need to see each other “as human beings and not as the enemy.” You guys really need to realize that everyone present at the Congress is there for the same reason: the benefit and advancement of the constituents that they are representing. The true mindset must be one of understanding that the other is also human and seeking solution; a compromise. The primary situation in the Congress is that no one wishes to compromise.
Our biggest recommendation for the Congress is to get over the differences that might exist within it, forget about the political parties, and simply work together to promote the welfare and high caliber life that the constituents deserve!
Sincerely,
Very Annoyed Constituents.
U.S. Government Honors. 