Why is it that the United States congress never has any physical fights, as in parliaments of other countries?
928773
Although it might surprise you, it's because our representative bodies are operating in a "mature" system, for want of a better word. The fights you talk about, (we've all seen 'em) are occurring such places as Japan (system in place since 1946), various states that are former SSR's (system in place since late '80's) Korea (system in place since mid 40's) \n\nIn contrast, our Senate and House date back to the 1780's, and if you do look back we had our share of physical stuff earlier too. In the early 1800's it was not uncommon for legislators to challenge each other to duels. Then the most notorious example was the brutal caning that Congressman Preston Brooks gave to Senator Charles Sumner right on the Senate floor because of Sumner's outspoken abolitionism.\n\nIt is noteworthy that the nation with the longest continuous representative system of government, Iceland, has no known occurrences of such antics.
80248
Because, unlike "hot" wars, a "cold" war features relatively little direct military conflict.  The US and Soviet Union never fought directly on each other's native soil, but instead conflicted via policies, diplomatics, embargoes, and the occasional "offsite" military confrontation (e.g. Korea and Vietnam).
1162016
That's a good question, and there has been debate over whether to require term limits for Congress.  The President didn't used to have term limits until after FDR.  In favor of no term limits, experience is very useful and congressmen can be ousted during election periods. On the other hand, it's easier for an incumbent to win.  The President has A LOT more power in a single person than a single congressman does, and that's probably the main reason the Presidency was given term limits already and Congress was not.
785223
When your party is in the majority, you get to choose the committee chairpersons. Every committee will have one more person from your party than the other. So you control the committees. A lot of the work of the Congress is done in committee. No vote is ever held on the floor until it gets passed by the appropriate committee.\n\nIf one party holds BOTH houses, then you have a lot less friction when the House and Senate get together to work out the differences in the House and Senate versions of a bill.
122333
For the United States, only the Congress has the power to declare war.  The War Powers Act gives limit authority to the President to send US troops into combat, and requires him to report to Congress within a specified period of time.\n\nAnd of course all our enemies can declare war against us at any time.
420404
congress makes laws, not a branch...
881172
A is accurate. Under the articles, there was no president or courts, only a congress with the power to make war & peace, maintain an army & navy but couldn't colect taxes. The states retained their sovreignity and regulated commerce themselves.
972609
I grew up in the US, I now live in South Korea...believe me, the media here doesn't try to block liberal views as the US does.  Congress is not passing laws that allow for taking away of some freedoms (i.e. patriot act) that is being done here in the US.  It's funny people that never traveled talk all this smack about how only the US is the only free nation in the world.  Lot of places I have gone to is free.  Don't believe the US media hype machine that makes it sound like only the US is the only free nation in the world.
877547
It's a lame duck because it doesn't have any popular authority left. Since most of it's members have been voted out of power, it cannot claim the mandate necessary to enact broad, sweeping legislation. It must only muddle along till the newly elected congress comes about.
437407
Officially, we aren't at war.  Only Congress can declare war.  AND war can only be declared against a nation with boundaries.\nThis war on terror is about as lame as the war on poverty and the war on drugs back in the 80's.\n\nI hate the fact that friends of mine have been killed defending a foreign policy that will only keep us embedded in turmoil for years.  It discusts me!
316659
NO it is called The Federal District of Columbia, it has electoral representation, but not elected congressionally represented. It is the only District in USA asa classified like that. American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands[though not by now :)- ], Vanuatu, Wake Islands, Midway, Johnston ISlands and the Baker/Howell Islands are all other non-states in the Union, Palau and Micronesia are associatead Republllics by a Compact of Free Association. SO, DC isnt state nor territroy nor anything, it is its own enttity.
810825
Contrary to the popular belief shown in these answers it did not start in the American Congress.  It started in the assembly of France.  Those that sat on the Speakers right were loyal to the Republic and those that sat to the left were seeking to change the government.\n\nThere was no original conection to religion at the start, but there has been an intertwining of personal beleifs since then.
492656
There has only been one capital city in the United States, Washington D.C. There have been several capitol buildings (the building where congress meets): The Maryland State House in Annapolis, Federal Hall in New York, and Congress Hall in Philadelphia.
1133920
I'm not going to repeat what's already been mentioned, but the Senate is considered the 'upper house' of Congress, and the House of Representatives is considered the 'lower house,' which is why the Senate has special roles (like passing treaties, etc.).
1096390
1)Party discipline is always weak in Congress compared to, for example, the British Parliament.  It's the nature of the beast. There are only two viable parties in the US, so they both have very big tents and allow a lot of freedom of political movement for members.\n\n2)Democrats, in particular, always have poor discipline because they haven't really advocated a major policy shift since Clinton's health plan in like 1994. They don't have anything unifying them except their hatred of Republicans.\n\n3)Republicans have poor discipline because they are running away from the President like he's a time bomb. With his approval ratings in the 20's, any political figure seen as close to the President has a good chance at losing reelection.
876022
Each of the 50 states can send 2 Senators to congress.  This allows each state equal say in the political process\n\nEach state sends a number of Representatives to the House, the other half of Congress, to represent them.  The thing is, Representatives in the House correlate with the population of each state, so a more populous state has more Representatives than a less populous state.\n\nIt all arose from debate about whether the states should have equal say in the political process or whether it should depend on population.  Our congress is a compromise, the Senate was developed so each state has an equal say, the House for those who thought population should determine how much say each state has, dependent upon population.\n\nNeither has ministries, they simply retain the legislative power, with set rules governing how each half of Congress interacts with each other in making laws.  Each half retains specific powers, and often they share powers as well.  Congress, the House and Senate combined, is simply one of 3 branches of government.  \n\nIf you have any more questions my email is open, so simply ask, and I'll be happy to let you know!
591005
There are two houses of congress, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. \n\nThe Senate has two representatives (Senators) from each state.\n\nThe House of Representatives has representatives based on the population in each state.\n\nA Congressman may be either a Senator or a Representative. Generally, the distinction is Congressman and Senator, but not always.\n\nSenators, by virtue of the fact that there only 100, have more power. I don't know exactly how many Representatives there are - you could probably find that datum fairly quickly, and I am too lazy to do it for you. I think a conservative estimate is that there are more that 3 representatives for every Senator.