The National Constitution Center

A few years ago, whilst on a family holiday in Pennsylvania - we drove down to Philadelphia - and part of that visit involved a tour of the National Constitution Center. Well worth a visit - though as with many buildings at the moment - it is closed during the Coronavirus Crisis.

However the work of the Center continues. There are some excellent resources available online. I spent some time exploring what is currently available - and was excited at what was available. The website to go to is https://constitutioncenter.org

I was particularly impressed by the range of videos available - which you can access here.

"Washminster" - from J David Morgan: A New Tomorrow?

"Washminster" - from J David Morgan: A New Tomorrow?: I am convinced that when this crisis is over - we will be in a "1945 situation" - where the systemic failings of our system of g...

A New Tomorrow?

I am convinced that when this crisis is over - we will be in a "1945 situation" - where the systemic failings of our system of government; of our economic structure; of our health & education infrastructure etc - will be recognised - and as in 1945-51, action taken to rebuild learning from these failures.

We've been reminded in the last 50 years how eventually history is forgotten - those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it!!! (all those lessons about the inability of a minimalist state to run a sustainable economy, the value of a robust national health system etc) - but we can for a generation or more build a better system.

Politics matters!

As citizens, we can build our knowledge of key issues - and don't under-estimate the value of understanding procedures (aka - how to get things done in decision making institutions - be they Council or Parliament) - but on issues themselves - the House of Commons Library is an excellent source of well written, non-partisan material on issues

ANYONE can sign up to briefings from the House of Commons Library - https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/subscribe/

In the USA the Congressional Research Service is an excellent source of non-partisan material

https://crsreports.congress.gov

Congress and the Presidency

The Rules Committee of the House of Representatives took a look at the relationship between Congress and the Executive Branch.

Click on this link https://www.c-span.org/video/?469936-1/legislative-branch-authority