Has There Ever Been A Time When All Three Branches Were Under One Party?

[DistressedAmerican]

I can't recall a time myself. I say that when all three branches are under the control of one party, dissenters are are America's most important citizens.

I have a feeling the founding fathers (that the right loves to talk about) would be horriffied by this situation. I do not think they ever thought the balance would fail!

[Ravenseye]

1. 1929

That year ring a bell? Interestingly enough that's the end of the last time the Republicans controlled all branches of government including the supreme court.

The controlled all but the supreme court in the 50's as well, but everything like now? You gotta go back to '29

[DistressedAmerican]

2. So, Maybe another depression is looming?

[punpirate]

5. Well, maybe, maybe not....

By 1929, between Harding, Coolidge and Hoover, there had been almost an entire decade of laissez-faire maladministration, misadministration or intentional toadying to Wall Street and the very wealthy. Banks were part and parcel of the problem since they were loaning far more money than they actually had to people buying stocks on margin, with no more collateral than the stock itself, not to mention loaning money for mass-produced goods through a relatively new vehicle--consumer credit.

It was an entirely different time and situation--the depression then was largely due to a lack of controls on commercial debt. That doesn't mean that something completely new and unexpected can't happen now. What enabled FDR to pull the country out of that problem was the full faith and credit of the United States government, something that is in doubt today--if and when the Bushies decide that they have no intention of repaying money to the Social Security trust fund, that they intend to default on those debts in order to convince the public that their version of SS reform is necessary, then the full faith and credit of the government is in doubt, and that would greatly negatively influence the foreign investors who loan us the money to keep our economy afloat.

[disillusioned1]

16. Interesting articles about the Depression and the Federal Reserve

http://www.perfecteconomy.com/principal---federal-reserve-system.html

[DistressedAmerican]

17. Thanks for the link!

[Jack Rabbit]

3. I believe the Democrats controlled all three branches form late thirties

to 1946 and from 1948 to 1950.

By 1968, when Nixon was elected, I believe a majority of the Supreme Court was appointed by Democrats, both houses of Congress had been in Democratic hands since 1954 and the White House since 1960.

[DistressedAmerican]

4. There's history I'd like to see repeat itself! (n/t)

[WoodrowFan]

6. 1953-1954 republican.

1933-1947 Democratic
1949-1953 Democratic
1961-1969 Democratic
1977-1981 Democratic
1993-1995 Democratic
2001-* repuk

[Silverhair]

7. Probably for most of USA history.

The houses were divided until the civil war, then from the civil war until 1932 the Republicans pretty much had things their way.

After 1932 the Democrats gained control of all three except for a very brief time under Ike.

So a unified gov't is the norm for the country.

The parties have switched sides on some issues from time to time.

[DistressedAmerican]

8. Interesting, Looks Like Checks and Balances Does Not Work That Well

It is possible that the founders were less than devine?

[Silverhair]

12. System still works.

If the majority party gets too far away from the will of the people or otherwise screws up, then the people vote them out.

[DistressedAmerican]

13. Unless they own the voting equipment!

I think it is far more dysfunctional than you are admitting.

Power holds power! The vast majority of incumbents are reelected.

I do not think we even know what the "will of the people" is anymore. As far as I can see, their will is just to ignore it and hope the problems go away.

[anarchy1999]

9. I do believe that this was a very large concern for Jefferson.

Didn't he write something about an overthrow or revolution necessary every 20 years or so? It's way too early for me for a Monday and I've not yet had enough coffee. Considering an early morning nap instead. Long, tough weekend.

A great resource for me for some time has been:

www.reclaimdemocracy.org

(Actually since December of 2001 when we went to visit the founder of said website in Boulder, CO.)

[DistressedAmerican]

10. Why Yes He Did!

Here you go:

[theboss]

11. Most of the 30s and 40s and into the 50s; parts of the 60s and 70s

And technically from 92 through 94 (when you consider how the Court voted then).

The Dems controlled the House for most of the century and generally controlled the Senate. And FDR/Truman were president for a combined 20 years with Ike for 8 and then Kennedy/Johnson for 8.

One-party government is probably more of the norm than the exception.

It just hasn't happened much in the last 20 years.

[skippythwndrdog]

14. It is how Social Security wasn't declared unconstitutional.

In 1937, DemocratFDR submitted a bill to the Democratically controlled congress that would have expanded the federal judiciary by one judge for each sitting judge over seventy years of age. This would have added up to six members to the Supreme Court. This was done because his New Deal legislation was constantly being overturned by the Supreme Court as being unconstitutional. Basically, FDR was trying to pack the court so that they would let stand his legislation. The court, under this pressure, buckled, so we now have Social Security and a bunch of other programs that we otherwise wouldn't have. FDR, controlled the court.

[theboss]

15. "The switch in time that saved nine....."

It's amazing to read commerce clause cases up to that point. The change is so sudden and unexplained in the opinions.

[DistressedAmerican]

18. Kickin' It Baby!

Hello evening DUers!