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 * The U.S. Congress as a Sustainability Problem**

The image above is from the film “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” In this film Joseph Smith has to overcome corruption and the senate in order to work through legislation for a national “Boy Ranger’s Camp.”

The politics and government of the United States of America are not sustainable in today’s modern world. A number of different factors contribute to the issues that are currently making our government ineffective. In this particular case, the U.S. Congress is not sustainable as it is not a body capable of representing the citizens of the U.S.A. Without an effective congress efficient environment legislation cannot be brought to fruition and enforced properly.

A few factors contribute to this problem. Unequal representation and prolonged incumbency of individual politicians in senatorial and representative seats in congress make our nation’s congress more susceptible to corruption. The system that is only two hundred years hold calls for only two senators from each state and a number of representatives that does not represent the population properly, 435 (4). With a number of congressmen around the area of five-hundred fifty, our population of a near three hundred million cannot be represented in a manner that accounts for the say of the American people. If there were more representatives to speak for constituents in the senate, it would be much more difficult important decisions to rely and the few, and be easily effected by corporate lobbyists.

Another issue is the fact that bi-partisan politics dominate our political system. The issue in this is the fact that senators and representatives tend to vote with their political parties opinions, which in many cases are not the opinions or the will of their respective constituents. Politicians vote with political parties in order to keep campaign contributions and retain their political power. For many politicians there is a drive to retain seats in congress, as well as many other government positions as there is not limitation for the number terms representatives and senators can serve in congress. (5)

Without a cap on the number of terms congressmen can serve, politicians will give in to the will of their political parties and lobbyist in order to receive campaign contributions, this is corruption. The American people are not properly represented compared to corporations and political parties. With this, legislation and enforcement work in favor of the large corporations that in many cases harm our environment. As the government is supposed to represent the people, it is not sustainable if it is susceptible to corruption from lobbyists and bi-partisan politics.

1. Horner, William T. "Ripping the Heart out of the People's House: The Impact of Term Limits on Balance of Power Between State Houses of Represenatives and State Senates." //Conference Papers -- Midwestern Political Science Association// (2005): 1-10. //Academic Search Premier//. EBSCO. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.
 * References**

2. “Image from Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.” All Things Beautiful. Web March 24, 2010. []

3. “Wegner, Mark, and Jill Smallen. "Ethics Overhaul Stalls in Senate." //National Journal// 39.3 (2007): 46. //Academic Search Premier//. EBSCO. Web. 24 Mar. 2010.

4. “Longley, Robert. “Apportionment and The Census.” About.com. Web March 24 2010.http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/censusandstatistics/a/apportionment.htm

5. Washington, George. From the Farewell Address, Sept. 19, 1796 in: //The Writings of George Washington//, pp. 969-71 (Library of America ed. 1997)