ABSTRACT
The U.S. Congress is usually-and accurately-referred to as the most powerful legislature in the world. Whereas a common trend in other democratic countries has been the rise of powerful executives and the relative decline of assemblies and parliaments, Congress has been remarkably successful in maintaining its independence from executive influence. This is not to deny that the powers and functions of Congress have changed over time. Clearly they have, and the particular way in which the institution operates today is very different even from in the 1980s. But throughout its history, Congress has remained an essentially autonomous institution. Even during periods of executive ascendancy-most recently during the Johnson and Nixon years-Congress never became the mere instrument of presidents.
