Overview

The Center on Congress at Indiana University produces a series of commentaries by Director Lee Hamilton. In these commentaries, Hamilton draws on his 34 years of experience as a United States Representative from the Ninth District, Indiana, and explains the important function of Congress in our system of representative democracy. The commentaries listed below specifically describe the role and responsibilities of Congress. In these commentaries, Hamilton discusses the central ideas and historical origins of American constitutional government, including the principles of federalism, checks and balances, the protection of individual rights, and promoting the common good.

Congressional Reform Difficult, but Urgently Needed calls for reforming the congressional committee structure dealing with intelligence and homeland security matters. Hamilton acknowledges that this reform may be extremely difficult to carry out, but says that is not an excuse for ignoring the need.

Why We Need to Restore Power to Congress sets out the view that the executive branch must be checked and balanced by an equally strong Congress in order for our system of representative government to function as the Founders intended. Hamilton argues that Congress should be more assertive, to ensure that the legislative branch is at least a co-equal with the presidency in governing the nation.

Why Congress Exists discusses the origins and historical foundation of Congress. Hamilton explains that the Founders, having thrown off the rule of an imperious monarch, were intent on creating a strong Congress that would check the power of the presidency and guarantee the people an influential voice in the halls of government.

Balancing Powers in Government explains how the principle of balance of powers has helped our system of government survive for so many years. Because no one part of government dominates, decision-making involves many people and interests. The policies that emerge from this collaborative process carry with them a sense of legitimacy and authority.

Why Congress Needs to Assert Itself calls for Congress to assume its Constitutional responsibility to be an equal with the Executive branch in determining the course of the country.

States' Rights? Depends on Where You Stand examines the allocation of power among levels of government. The Constitution does not always speak definitively on how much can be mandated from Washington and how much is to be left to the states, and issues continually arise that test policymakers' convictions as to where that line belongs.

The Sovereignty of the American People had in mind when they set up our system of government. It is a system resting squarely on the belief that freedom can exist only when one is governed with one's consent and with a voice in government.

Why Federalism Works examines how the distribution of powers among federal, state and local governments contributes to the vitality and ingenuity of our democracy. Hamilton explains that federalism creates the opportunity for policy-makers to gauge whether problems are best confronted in town halls or state capitals or in Washington — or in some combination of all of them.

The Roots of Our Success describes the role that government has played in making the United States a successful country. Hamilton says that in the Congress, the presidency, and the judiciary, Americans have a forum that enables us to deliberate on difficult issues and resolve our differences, allowing us to live together peacefully and productively.

Congress and the President discusses the interaction between the President and Congress. Hamilton explains that while the President commands more media attention, and thus often comes across as the dominant partner in the relationship, the framers of the Constitution actually gave more specific powers to Congress, because they feared that a too-powerful President would repeat the wrongs that the King of England had inflicted on the colonies.

Congress and the President calls for aggressive congressional oversight to protect the nation from an imperial presidency. Hamilton says that oversight can be tedious, technical and unglamorous work, but it exposes and prevents misconduct and ensures that the people have some influence on an Administration after they vote it into office.

Broken Oversight notes that while the President is commander-in-chief, the Constitution gives Congress key foreign policy powers such as ratifying treaties and declaring war. Hamilton says that America's position in the world is stronger when the President works with Congress in formulating foreign policy.

Why the President Needs the Help of Congress to Make Foreign Policy notes that while the President is commander-in-chief, the Constitution gives Congress key foreign policy powers such as ratifying treaties and declaring war. Hamilton says that America's position in the world is stronger when the President works with Congress in formulating foreign policy.

Congress and the Power of the Purse explains why Congress has the authority to set the spending and taxing policies of the nation. Mindful of "taxation without representation" suffered by colonists under the British crown, the framers of the Constitution took care to specify that the ultimate power to tax and spend resides in the hands of the legislative branch — which is closer to the people — not the executive branch.

Congress and the Common Good discusses what the Founders had in mind when they established our government and explains that more legislators need to take a step back and think about what is best for the country.

Clicking on any commentary title will direct you to a screen with the text of that essay. You can hear a shorter version of the commentary, recorded by Hamilton, by clicking on the LISTEN TO THE RADIO VERSION OF THIS ARTICLE link. If you wish to print the commentary without frames, click on PRINTABLE PAGE.