We’re long overdue for a Schoolhouse Rock reboot, but with each passing year I’m more convinced it’ll never happen. Why would any broadcaster bother supplying civic education to a country where there’s no demand?
In case some nostalgic middle-aged television producer insists on throwing his money away, though, here’s a freebie idea for an episode: What is the point of Congress in 2025?
I know what the Constitution says it’s supposed to do. But what does it actually do?
“Congress declares war,” you say. Well, no, it doesn’t. It’s been more than 75 years since any such declaration has been made. Congress does occasionally pass “authorizations to use military force” for major conflicts, but most projections of U.S. military power abroad nowadays happen on the say-so of the president. In theory the legislature has authority to halt those interventions, but in practice it doesn’t…
