Week 3 – (…posting this took an act of) Congress

This post was originally submitted as a homework assignment:

Congress now has some difficult times ahead – and some difficult decisions to make for the American people. After reading Lesson 3, answer the following questions: 

Given what you now know about how Congress works and how a bill is passed, what do you think the likelihood of success will be for President Obama to implement his agenda? 

In retrospect, identify at least two past presidents and explain how well they were in implementing their agenda?  (Please stay out of the politics and use the PROCESS of implementation as the foundation of your answer.) 

Include citations or URLs for your work to receive full credit, and provide substantive replies to the posts of at least two of your classmates.

Prior to reading this week's material I had a general understanding of how bills may or may not become law thanks to Schoolhouse Rock! I remember seeing a poor, depressed Bill sitting there on the steps of Capitol Hill, explaining the processes he would have to go through in order to become Law, and the fears he had for being turned down in the House, Senate or even vetoed by the President. Sure, Bill told us that it was possible for him to be modified for re-introduction, or that if he went through everything just to become vetoed he could still become Law if the members of Congress had enough votes to overrule the veto. The troubled road that Bill was facing was understandably depressing; fortunately he seemed to pass quickly and was signed by the President. Congratulations, Bill, you are now a Law.

The way that our government has been established, with the system of “checks and balances” that attempt to keep fair and common interests in mind with the passing of laws, it can be difficult for any bill to pass whether or not the thoughts are introduced by a President and regardless of political affiliation. To postulate on whether the recent plans of our current President can become law is beyond my abilities and interests. I can say that in order for any plans to reduce taxes, create jobs and stimulate economic growth, the plans would have to go through the House and then Senate for review before being enacted by the President. Likelihood of this? I cannot say.

For the most part, every President has had issue with introducing his plans. There have been a few which have had various ideas go through with relative ease—these Presidents have usually had such success due to the nature and the state of the nation at that point. Presidents F. D. Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Johnson are a few that are known for having strong plans for aid to the public in their respective time-period's need—Johnson's work being an extension of the late Kennedy's plans.

Roosevelt managed to introduce, pass, and implement several plans for recovery during a great economic depression. Kennedy/Johnson managed to make more argument on the topics of rights and bring about aid and resources to everyone with focus on the young, elderly and underprivileged with programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

This post received the following comments:

From Joseph Butvilas:

Jeremiah,

     I have to admit that I laughed a little when you mentioned schoolhouse rock and what you remembered of how a bill becomes a law. While I have never personally watched the show, I am aware of what it is, and was amused to learn that it actually is a good learning tool. 
     I do agree with you that every president has at least some trouble passing laws, but that is how it is supposed to be, right? With out the power of Senate and Congress coupled with the system of checks and balances, our government would be nothing more than a dictatorship. The president would have absolute power and it would negate everything our founding fathers envisioned for the United States. 
     JFK and Lyndon Johnson were successful when it came to signing bills into laws. One key issue I think you may have overlooked is the Civil Rights Act. While it was John F. Kennedy's vision, he was assassinated before the bill could be signed into law. It was Lyndon Johnson who eventually followed through on it. 

Very interesting post,

V/R,

Joe B.

From Harold Armstrong:

Funny you mention Schoolhouse Rock because as I post this it is actually on TV right now in Korea. I am although actually interested on what your views with President Obama introducing his Bill. While he managed to entise the younger voters to check his name on the ballet, I think his approach to getting bills signed off on is a little flawed. I find it funny that he thinks he can bully his bills into law. Honey is sweeter than vinegar there Mr Prez.