Monroe Administrations - Monroe and Congress

Monroe and Congress

Monroe made himself very accessible to members of Congress, who were welcomed to call on him at the White House. Monroe also exercised influence over Congress through several department offices. As Congress had little staff or services, it was often dependent on the executive branch for information, data, and sometimes even legislative language, practices that continue to this day.

At the same time, there were several influences that diminished the president's effectiveness with Congress. First of all there was the popular and powerful Speaker of the House, Henry Clay of Kentucky. One of the country's great legislators (who ran unsuccessfully for president), he wielded great power in the House of Representatives due to his office as well as his personal stature. Clay might not have been able to force Monroe's hand, but neither could the president succeed in Congress without Clay.

A second factor that...

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