228 KANSAS LMNERSllV (^UAR IKRl.V. 



person upon whom the responsibility for such measures would rest. 

 And it is fitting that this should be so, since the President is the only 

 officer of importance for whom all voters have the privilege of casting 

 their ballots. The President is the only person from wliom it is pos- 

 sible to obtain an effective responsibility. 



The suggestion is interesting as the only one so far which clearly 

 recognizes and attempts to remedy the lack of responsibility in 

 government. But it seems impracticable, failing to consider the pos- 

 sibility of a President whose political views do not coincide with 

 those of a majority in the House. This may easily come about. 

 Under such circumstances committees appointed by him, reflecting 

 his views, could not [jossibly possess the confidence of the House, 

 and no committee could hope to do efficient work unless supported by 

 a majority. Such a committee would soon realize its dependence 

 upon the majority whose votes are necessaryto carry out its propo- 

 sitions, rather than upon the President whose power is limited to the 

 privilege of suggestion. 



On the other iiand, if the Presiilent, recognizing the impracticabil- 

 ity of appointing commitiees not in harmony with the majority, 

 should lay aside his own plans for legislation and appoint the 

 committees from among the members of the opposition, he would 

 thereby make of no effect the result of the presidential election. He 

 would thus cast upon the House a responsibility which, as has been 

 seen, it is impossible to demand from that body. The suggestion 

 would be practicable only when the President and the House were in 

 harmony. .\t any other time it could only result in continual dis- 

 putes between the e.xecutive and Congress. 



.\ fourth suggestion is that the United States adopt the cabinet 

 system. There are several forms of this system, but the central idea 

 of each is that of a .Ministry responsible to an elected House of Rep- 

 resentatives, and remaining in power only so long as the Ministry and a 

 majority of that House are in harmony. In case of an adverse vote 

 in the House, upon some important question, the Ministry must 

 either resign office to an opposition party or appeal to the country 

 for vintlication. The suggestion usually made is that the United 

 States adopt as far as possible the English system, but whatever form 

 of cabinet government should be selected it would involve a complete 

 change in our institutions. The most important change would be the 

 election of a President for a long term, and placing hira so far above 

 ordinary party politics that he could interfere in no way in the con- 

 duct of national business. He would merely be the one to whom the 

 Ministry, on loss of power, should surrender office. His position 

 would be similar to that of the President of the French Republic 



