Bringing US Government in Rhythm with Changing Times, March 18, 2015

Foundation for Better Government

March 18, 2015

Bringing US Government in Rhythm with Changing Times

By T.S. Khanna, March 18, 2015

People born and brought up under a certain set of conditions regard them as axiomatic truths.  They go unquestioned for their usefulness or efficacy.  Look at the present set up of the US government: the Presidency and the Congress.  In view of the new challenges demanding superior judgment for public affairs,  public policy, and greater efficiency with minimum in-fighting, the Presidency and the Congress need a critical examination.

Representative democracy (Locke) generates centrifugal force.  With passage of time, this force continues to create greater and sharper divisions in the society.  In the absence of an adequate non-partisan centripetal force, the self-splitting society is unable to identify its own interest, leave aside pursuing it.  Currently, We are in that phase.

Some suggestions for consideration:

• Abolish the Senate.  It has long outlived its purpose;
• Establish a 15-member non-partisan Supreme Council elected by the House of Reps on a 6-year term like the Senate.  Transfer the Senate responsibilities and powers to the Supreme Council;
• The current offices of the President-VP may also be transferred to the President-VP of the Supreme Council, elected by its members on a 2-year term;
• The President may not have the veto power;
• The House of Reps may act only in advisory capacity to the Supreme Council on all congressional matters;
• The Supreme Council may have the integrated responsibilities and powers of the Congress and the President as well as the additional powers to interpret or amend the constitution.