Functions U.S. Congress perform

Prepare: Before tackling this second discussion question, make a nice sandwich, grab a cold drink, and watch the weekly movie, Congress: How it Works. Again, make sure you have the discussion prompts handy as you watch the film so that you can take notes and respond effectively to these questions. Also, review the main concepts covered in Chapters 5, 6, and 7 in A Novel Approach to Politics.

Reflect: The U.S. Congress is a complex and diverse institution. The legislative branch is designed to perform many critical functions in the United States, and this branch of government must be flexible yet also rigid at times. The various powers of Congress are critical elements of the checks and balances provided in the Constitution. A clear understanding of the legislative branch will broaden your knowledge of how governmental structures and institutions are designed and function.

Write: 

In your initial post of at least 200 words, complete the following:

• Explain the different functions that the U.S. Congress performs as discussed in the film and in the course text.
• Explain why some aspects of the U.S. Congress are democratic and some aspects are not democratic.