[aceriscoolon]

The Constitution provides no mechanism by which the national government can represent the national interest. The House of Representatives represents local interests, the Senate represents state interests (it used to represent the interests of the state governments) and, because of the electoral college, the President ultimately has to kow-tow to the interests of particular states in order to be elected and he has no real power to propose legislation because he has to make deals that benefit particular states in order to gain the support of the Representatives and Senators from these states.

I would consider allowing the President to rule by decree, subject to the override of Congress with a 2/3 vote. But, this would not be practical without giving the President the power to lay and collect taxes so he could pay to enforce the laws he wants. This would make the government too complicated to function.

But, what if we gave the President the power to propose legislation that Congress would have to vote yes or no on without sending it to committee, without filibustering and without amendments? If the President knew that Congress had to answer to the national interests by voting his legislation up or down, he may be less likely to make any effort to placate Representatives and Senators of individual states hoping to gain their support.

[Tamawaipsemek]

Was this a class project? We've had an influx of posters that seem to not know that we have a "Constitution". It's changed by the use of "Amendments". There is an existing process. You not about to change it into anything near your utopia.

[QuidQuoPro]

Was this a class project? We've had an influx of posters that seem to not know that we have a "Constitution". It's changed by the use of "Amendments". There is an existing process. You not about to change it into anything near your utopia.

Your patronizing attitude is neither needed, nor appreciated.

I made the assumption that the other posters here would understand how the federal government currently works and therefore would know that the President has no power to propose legislation. All he can do is provide information on the state of the Union and offer the Congress recommendations and advice. In return, Congress has no constitutional obligation to give the President so much as the time of day. The nation suffers under this current arrangement and changing the arrangement would be worth considering.

[yasmin]

I suggest the poster read US History 1880-1941 to understand today's paradigm.

[Amorsesombabs]

I suggest the poster read US History 1880-1941 to understand today's paradigm.

Which poster? Since I have 40 credit hours of history behind me, gathered while obtaining a B.A. in biology from Emory University, I do not likely need a refresher course in U.S. history.