It is hard to compare different presidents' performance in their first 100 days. The numbers of laws and executive orders signed by the president in their first 100 days varies quite a lot, and these do not have equal weight: some laws and executive orders are more impactful than others. Furthermore, presidents may or may not have majority support in Congress, and the sizes of their majorities varies.

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Why do presidents rely so heavily on executive orders during their first 100 days in office? We examine this question and learn about the standard set by FDR during his first 100 days as president on today's podcast.

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FDR faced the Great Depression and a banking crisis when he assumed office. Joe Biden faces the challenge of COVID-19 and a struggling economy. FDR's aggressive response within the first 100 days of his inauguration set the standard for every president after him.

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In modern times, former presidents have largely chosen to engage in public service, but they have also sought to improve their reputations.

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Technological advances in the early twentieth century allowed for ballots to be counted more quickly and reduced the time it took for legislators to travel from their states to the capital. As a result, the Twentieth Amendment was ratified in 1933, allowing for a newly elected or re-elected president and members of Congress to begin serving their terms shortly after being elected, reducing the amount of time "lame-duck" officials remain in office.

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You might be tempted to think that Wednesday's inauguration of Joe Biden is the most troubled in history, but it is not. Today we look at the first inauguration of Abraham Lincoln and remember Lincoln's words as an inspiration for the future of our diverse union.

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Congress has conducted hundreds of investigations since 1792.

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Even though it's not mentioned in the Constitution, Congress has the authority to carry out investigations.

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Today's podcast explains the practice of lobbying and the requirements of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995.

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Constituents, the people represented by an elected official, are valuable sources of ideas for legislation. Constituents influence legislation by responding to opinion polls and contacting members of Congress, among other methods. Lobbying is another method of trying to affect legislation. These are typically organized efforts to influence legislators and other public officials to propose or modify legislation or regulations.

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