Perspectives on American Democracy

The Center for American Progress and American University’s Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies hosted a one day symposium on “Checks and Balances, Perspectives on American Democracy at the Beginning of the Twenty First Century.” The symposium on American government focused on several issues including the role of the executive branch, congressional powers, the role of committees in formulating legislation and public policy, as well as government stability.

During the third segment of the symposium, the second panel discussed “Why Congress Matters: Perspectives on Stability and Changes in the House.” Members of the panel discussed sources of stability and change in the U.S. House of Representatives and linked its impact on the relationship with the president. They talked about how elections are the primary source of change, how there has been a disintegration of the committee process, and how there has been an increasing use of the filibuster in the Senate amendments close