This change will necessitate a change in the rules which can only be made by each house for itself.  A resolution has been introduced in the House of Representatives recommending this change, but it has not at this writing been acted upon.

In the English House of Commons, when the appropriation bill is introduced, the House becomes in effect a court before which the prime minister and his cabinet are placed on trial to defend their budget.  The whole House is in session.  The minority party, which conducts the opposition, employs counsel, and by its searching inquiries compels the cabinet to explain and defend the budget at every point.  By this procedure the public is informed as to the work and program of the government, and the executive leaders held strictly to account.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITIZEN

A budget system, however good it may be, like all other governmental machinery is merely an organization for team work, and will do very little good unless the team work is forthcoming, not only among the various branches and departments of government, but also on the part of the citizens.

If there is a real budget it has got to be your budget.  It will be good, bad or indifferent finally just in proportion to your interest in it and your expression of that interest at the polls and elsewhere.  If there is a good budget system—­not on paper, but in actual practice—­you’ve got to make it.  If, when a budget bill is finally enacted you say, “Well, that job is done,” and dismiss it from your mind there will be no lasting gain ... [Footnote:  Will Payne, “Your Budget,” Saturday evening post January 3, 1920, p. 30.]

Effective control over government can be exercised only by public opinion and public interest. We may have any kind of government we want, if we only want it badly enough, and only when we want it badly enough.  The blame for inefficiency and wastefulness on the part of government at Washington, or at the state capital, or at the county seat, rests largely with the people back home, who are either selfish or blind to the fact that the interests of the nation are larger than their own or those of their own little community.  The very people who talk most loudly about the extravagance of government, or about the burden of taxes, are likely to be the ones who expect most from their congressmen for purely personal or local advantage.  They are likely to judge their representative’s fitness for his position more by his ability to get funds from the public treasury for local gratification than by his attitude toward great national questions.

Investigate and report on the following: 

The present Speaker of the House of Representatives, and some of the more important members.

Leaders in the Senate at the present time.

A list of some of the more important committees in each House of
Congress.