quotations about the U.S. Congress
Congress, by the power of taxation, by that of raising an army, and by their control over the militia, have the sword in one hand and the purse in the other. Shall we be safe without either?
PATRICK HENRY
speech on the expediency of adopting the Federal Constitution, June 7, 1788
Congress, after years of stalling, finally got around to clearing the way for informal discussions that might lead to possible formal talks that could potentially produce some kind of tenative agreements ...
DAVE BARRY
attributed, Great Funny Quotes
After a man has been in Congress, he rarely goes back to real work.
ED HOWE, The Independent, March 18, 1922
No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session.
GIDEON J. TUCKER
Final Accounting in the Estate of A. B.
Researchers found a frog in new guinea that is so tiny, they believe it's the smallest vertebrate on the planet. It has the tiniest backbone of any living creature, except members of Congress.
JAY LENO
The Tonight Show, Jan. 12, 2012
Congress has always had a soft spot for “experts” who tell members what they want to hear, whether it’s supply-side economists declaring that tax cuts increase revenue or climate-change skeptics insisting that global warming is a myth.
PAUL KRUGMAN
"Fuels on the Hill,", New York Times, Jun. 27, 2008
Although the president is the chief foreign policy maker, Congress has a responsibility to be both an informed critic and constructive partner of the president. The ideal established by the founders is neither for one branch to dominate nor for there to be an identity of views between them. Rather, the founders wisely sought to encourage a creative tension between the president and Congress that would produce policies that advance national interests and reflect the views of the American people.
LEE H. HAMILTON
A Creative Tension
Too often critics seem more intent on seeking new ways to alter Congress than to truly learn how it functions. They might well profit from the advice of Thomas Huxley, who said a century ago: "Sit down before facts as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion -- or you shall learn nothing."
GERALD FORD
Address at the University of Florida, Gainesville, November 3, 1966
Investigation is the requirement of Congress. It's about checks and balances.
NANCY PELOSI
Meet the Press, May 7, 2006