Arrr, me mateys! Gather round and listen t' the tale o' Kevin McCarthy's mighty tumble. Take heed, ye scallywags!
2023-10-11
Arr, me hearties! The House o' Representatives be seein' the first oustin' o' its Speaker, aye! A mighty rumble be brewin' in them hallowed halls, shiver me timbers!
In a surprising turn of events, the House of Representatives has witnessed the first ousting of its Speaker. This event has left political analysts and historians puzzled about its implications. However, one thing is clear: the constant threat of a motion to vacate and the weakening of party leadership have only served to weaken Congress. It is time to consider whether a stronger Speaker would be more beneficial for Congress and make it more accountable to the people.Those who sympathize with the House's Freedom Caucus argue that power in the House is too centralized and that the dominance of the Speaker has turned it into a polarized institution. But recent events have proven that the opposite is true. What is needed is not less power for the Speaker, but more.
In 1910, the motion to vacate was last used against Speaker Joseph Cannon. At that time, the Republican Party was divided, similar to the current situation. However, the main difference was that the Democratic Party was not any more progressive than the Republicans. The division was within the Republican Party itself, between progressives and conservatives who believed that political parties were corrupt and undemocratic.
The power held by political parties in 1910 was unimaginable compared to today. The Speaker at that time had much greater authority, with the right of recognition, the power to select committee chairs and members, and control over the Rules Committee. This authority allowed the Speaker to regulate which bills made it to the floor, decide who could speak on them, and set the rules for debating. However, this power also sidelined progressives from the policy-making process.
The situation changed when George Norris, a progressive Republican, introduced a resolution to strip the Speaker of some of their powers. This marked a turning point in the Speaker's authority, giving individual members more freedom to act independently and opening avenues for lobbyists and interest groups to influence lawmaking.
The weakened power of the Speaker has resulted in a fragmented and gridlocked Congress, making it difficult to assemble a majority coalition and pursue a common agenda. Strengthening the Speaker is crucial, but it must be accompanied by fundamental reforms to rebuild the underlying parties, which are currently weak and disconnected from the voters.
A strong two-party system with strong leaders can enable Congress to regain power from the executive branch, build consensus on policies, and work towards compromise. Weakening the parties has not reduced corruption in American politics; instead, it has made corruption and government less accountable to the people.
While many view parties as the problem, they are actually the solution to polarization and dysfunction if they can be rebuilt as strong organizations that build broad coalitions and enact responsible reforms.