Evening star., 1947-07-23
Presidential Veto Power
Excessive Use Presents Political Parodox of Minority
Being in Control of Government

embodies the notion that such conflict was
desirable. But after the Republic was estab-
lished that opposition continued. 1t Is hardly
likely however, that the founding fathers con-
templated two presidential vetoes within four
days and four in about q month.
In Great Britain, the King, or political ex-
ecutive. was completely deprived of power
Instead a responsible cabinet grew out OF the
elected legislative body. The Prime Minister
came out of the cabinet. A party maintains
power only so long rs it carries the confidence
OF the legislature. On vote Of lack Of conf
dence, the people choose q new legislature,
from which is chosen a new cabinet and Prime
Minister The American people in November,
1916. showed lack Of confidence in the Demo-
cratic Party. The President, in the exercise of
the veto power. should show due regard for the
Judgment of the electorate
Harmony Should Be Goal.
Since our Constitution was adopted, the
corporate form of organization developed. A
corporation consists Of stockholders, directors
and officers, including q president This struc-
ture applied to business organizations, such as
labor unions, mutual insurance companies etc
No organization other than Government adopts
the principle of opposition between the board
OF directors and the president or other officials
In TACT, such opposition is unthinkable It could
prevent the smooth functioning of the corpo-
ration Not opposition, but harmony is the goal
1t was in this direction that the British govern
ment evolved. In Britain, the executive arm
comes out of the legislative arm. The two work
IN harmony, not in opposition. They rise and
1au together. Besides, the House of Lords also
sits as a supreme court.
Our inencient Government is luxury which
can be afforded by only a rich people Our eco
nomlc wealth often makes good our political
deficiencies. As our economic problems increase
and as our natural resources dwindle, our
Government will have to become more eficient.
The recent frequent exercise of the veto
power by President representing minority
party focuses attention on the need for the
study OF our Federal political structure Exami-
nation should be made of our State constitu-
tions, which are rewritten periodically, and also
OF the British political machinery. American
political ideas and devices represent the 18th
century stage Of political evolution in Great
Britain. But, meanwhile, Britain continued
political growth and we suffer from arrested
development Politically we are still living in
1788.
Just As the TaftHartley Act created q COM
mittee to study the workings of the act 50 also
should Congress create a permanent Joint
Committee on the Constitution, including able
members Of the House, Senate and representa-
tives OF the President and of the Supreme
Court, with an advisory committee of specialists
from scientific bodies, like the American Politi-
cal Science Association. It is likely then that
we should move as Britain, did, toward a re-
sponsible cabinet government in which the
Executive would arise out Of the legislature.
We could avoid veto OF bills of q new CONGRESS
by lame-duck President representing a mi
nofity and speaking As an echo of q rejected
administration. The veto challenges the judg-
ment OF the same electorate which made him
President. At present, we have the political
paradox OF the opposition being in power.
ELISHA M. FRIEDMAN.