(09-01-2014 08:31 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(09-01-2014 08:26 PM)EagleX Wrote:  

(09-01-2014 08:21 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(09-01-2014 08:16 PM)EagleX Wrote:  Ah. indeed. that's the Canadian version of the prime minister's questions in the British house of commons.

entertaining, as well as necessary to keep our leaders sharp. we should require our president to have to stand for questions from congress once a week. American democracy would be vastly improved.

There would be pros and cons to that. It could keep our leaders sharp and transparent. It could also give him more influence than intended.

The reason there are question times is that the Prime Minister is actually a part of parliament.

I think the purpose could be served with a Speaker of the House's questions.

the equivalent of the british prime minister is the president of the united states. the speaker of the house already can't hide -- in fact, may be too accessible -- regardless of party.

It's interesting, but I'd say that the President is a weird mixture between the PM and a Viceregal officer. The PM isn't the Head of State.

The POTUS also cannot legislate, which is almost the entire purpose of "questions".