ABSTRACT
In order to keep president hold upon Congress throughout his administration or to learn whether the country has definitely turned away from his policies, the president should have the power to force the House of Representatives to stand one general election during his term of office. The right of the president to force an election upon a recalcitrant Congress is the key to any effective effort to create an adequate civil service. Presidents who have been completely stopped by Congress have been reelected by considerable majorities. Once he had the right to dissolve Congress, the retention of patronage—which in fact causes many of his enormous present difficulties—would become a liability. He could follow his natural desire as the chief executive to strengthen the administrative departments and turn their chief posts into permanent civil service positions open to career men. There should be a political secretary and one or two political assistant secretaries in each department.
