History Essays

AmericanCongress
The AmericanCongress is one of the three arms of the American Government. The other arms ofthe Government include the Executive headed by the American President who iselected on a four-year term that is eligible for the re-election. The third armis the Judiciary that adjudicates the policy process as well as interprets the USAConstitution. The US Congress that is the core of the legislative arm of theAmerican Government has a long history tracing back to over 200 years since theestablishment of the USA. The revolution of the 1776 gave the American s an opportunity toprovide the legal framework that would steer them to their management of theirpublic affairs. It traces to the 13 North American States that were colonies ofthe British who after intense effort had managed to declare their independencein the famous Declaration of Independence that followed the birth of the USA in 1776. The USA constitution was a document that was written basing on the colonial experience that they hadunder the British since the discovery of America and the establishment of theplantation agriculture in the 16th century. After frantic efforts,the 13 colonies went ahead to have a unilateral declaration of theirindependence from Britain. Today, the USA is the model of an ideal democraticoutlook of the modern times. The USA Constitution for which legalizes thepresence of the Congress has become the model of the modern democracy. It haswithstood the test of time in all countries of the world. In brief, the USA isthe leading political force all over the world today. The influence of the USAis felt everywhere. Indeed, the USA signifies the world power that can not beunderestimated. Its powers go even beyond the mandate of the United Nations. Aclear example of this is the Congress decision in the USA in 2003 to endorsethe forceful eviction of the former Iraq President the Late Saddam Hussein. Thecase of Noriega in Panama in 1988 when he was evicted from the office contraryto the UN's security council's decision clearly demonstrates how powerful the USAcan and is politically, militarily as well as economically. In addition, the USA constitution has turned out to be unique. Ithas formed the basis of the constitutional processes all over the world. Oneinteresting fact about this document has been its ability to withstand the testof time. It is the document that has received very few Amendments. This isideal for the African countries that seek to make post-colonial states. The USAconstitution was also made on the premise of the English practice that hasexisted for many years. In fact, the USA to date enjoys the cordial and warmrelationship with the English and great Britain on the European front. TheFrench Philosophy of human liberalism had a great effect on the AmericanConstitution. The adoption of the latter document in the year 1781 sounded ofgreat significance to the USA. Today, the document was heavily borrowed fromduring the UN Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 in Geneva. Structure of the USAcongress

The USA congressis the core operational form of the Legislative arm of the Government of theUnited States of America. The Congress works with staff of individual membersand congressional committees that is the expertise for its own library,research service and accounting, budget and technology, assessment offices. Itis assumed to be the supreme organ of the USA Government. This is basing on itspowers to enact the law, control commerce and taxation and declaring war. Thismakes the congress supreme. The USA congress is bicameral. That means the congress is divided into two chambers that is theSenate and the House of the Representatives. This is a tradition that wasborrowed from the British Parliamentary practice but was more contextual. Inthe American case, the two chambers were arrived at during the Assembly dupedthe Federal Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.