The Founding Fathers understood that central to representative government is a legislative branch that shapes governance through debate and legislation, vigorously exercising its powers to tax, spend, and borrow as well as to make law.
Yet in recent years Congress has been all too willing to transfer its constitutional powers to an increasingly powerful executive branch. The result has been the rise of a regulatory state, an erosion in popular respect for Congress—and, arguably, a federal government that is as ineffective as it is debt-laden.
Could a Republican-led Congress restore constitutional balance between the legislative and executive branches? What steps are needed to revive the House and Senate’s authorities over taxation, spending, and regulation—and to reassert the principal of representative lawmaking? Would these steps help or hurt the Republicans’ policy and political ambitions?
At this session, Hudson Institute Distinguished Fellow Christopher DeMuth discussed his path-breaking article on this subject— A Constitutional Congress? —with a panel including former Senator Don Nickles of Oklahoma. Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Arthur Herman moderated the discussion.
Join Hudson Institute for a discussion with former US Ambassador to Venezuela James Story to examine recent developments in Venezuela and assess the direction of Washington's strategy.
Please join Ambassador Greer for a fireside chat with Senior Fellow Peter Rough on the Trump administration’s first year back in office and what’s next for US trade policy.
Join Nina Shea in a discussion with Ethan Gutmann and Congressman Chris Smith, the author of the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting bill.
Please join Acting Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers Pierre Yared for a conversation with Senior Fellow Tom Duesterberg on the first year of the Trump administration’s economic agenda and the key factors shaping the US economy’s outlook.
