What You Need to Know About the US Congress

BY: Mehdi Alavi

US Congress has relinquished war powers and regulatory authority to the president, undermining the balance of power.

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Influence of money in politics weakens US Congress, as legislators prioritize fundraising over representing constituents.

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Money's influence: Congress swayed by interest groups, including AIPAC, silencing dissent against foreign influence.

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AIPAC opposes Obama's Iran deal, and Congress prioritizing foreign interests over American ones risks peace and security.

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Congress plagued by pork-barrel projects, legislative extortion, and failure to address wealth inequality and poverty.

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Deep divisions persist as Republicans take 15 rounds to elect Kevin McCarthy, Congress favors wealthy donors with tax cuts.

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Representation issues: DC, Puerto Rico, US territories lack voice despite larger populations compared to some states.

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Representation challenge: With 1 representative per 767,816 people, it's difficult to effectively represent diverse constituents.

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