ABSTRACT
The reason for the independence of members of Congress and senators is something that is absolutely basic within our Constitution, and something in which it disresembles the British constitution altogether—the firm territorial base which each congressman has. The accommodation that is being sought in Congress is not a movement toward the British Parliament, but a movement toward the structure of the United States Congress prior to the advent of Sam Rayburn, and that is the revitalization of the majority party caucus. The situation existed in Taft's last term, and mild reforms were put into effect with the Democratic Congress and a Republican president. Congress would never really come near to a parliamentary system—there would be no way for the caucus to actually impose its will on its members—but it would move toward a tighter organization to effectuate a majority party program.
