A Guide for Better Informed Americans - Vol. IV - No. 7 - Should or Should Not Congress Let Itself Be Televised?

Sep 21, 2026

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A Guide for Better Informed Americans discusses whether Congress should televise its proceedings, weighing public benefits of broader visibility against potential drawbacks. It explains existing in-person spectator arrangements in the House and Senate, then frames the debate as more complex than a simple yes-or-no choice. The text also examines constitutional provisions on public journals and secrecy, connects democratic consent to the public’s role, and traces historical practices from England through colonial assemblies to early U.S. congressional access.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT CONGRESS LET ITSELF BE TELEVISED?

GOVERNMENT IN FULL SIGHT OR BEHIND CLOSED DOORS?

A Guide for Better Informed Americans PUBLISHED BY THE Center for Information on America WASHINGTON,CONN.March 1955-Vol.IV -No.7 33》 EDITORIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE:Dr.James W.Fesler,Chairman of the Department af Palitical Science,Yale Uni-versity;Dr.Kent Roberts Greenfield,Chief Historion,United States Army,Washingtan,D.C.;Dr.Allan Nevins,Pro-fessor of American History,Columbia University,President af the Saciety af American Histarians;Dr.Robert E.Spiller,Chairman of Committee an American Civilization,University af Pennsylvania,President af the American Studies Asso-ciation,o notionol society for the study of Americon civilizatian. Editor:Townsend Scudder,Executive Director af the Center. ## SHOULD OR SHOULD NOT CONGRESSLET ITSELF BE TELEVISED? It already lets itself be seen and heard-and has doneso for a great many years. In the House,there's a gallery of six hundred and sixteenseats for the convenience of citizens who wish to watch theirrepresentatives in action.The Senate goes the House fivebetter with a spectators'gallery seating six hundred andtwenty-one. It's all part of the pattern of government of,by,and forthe people. Why not enlarge those galleries which between them,ata sitting,can accommodate only about a thousand people?Through television this could be readily done,permittingtwenty,thirty,forty or more million citizens to see and hearthe same thing which,because of limited space,is availablenow to only a few. Why not bring the sight and sound of Congress at workinto the living rooms of the people? At first thought,this looks like an uncomplicated ques-tion. A little consideration will show that it's not.There aresides and angles to the entire problem which call for seriousdeliberation. Many of these considerations probably influenced Speak-er Sam Rayburn when he ruled that,in the Eighty-FourthCongress,there'll be no televising at all of the activities ofthe House. But Representative George Meader has submitted a reso-lution suggesting this amendment to the rules:"Each com-mittee is authorized,in its discretion,upon such terms andconditions as it deems advisable,to permit the broadcastingand telecasting of its proceedings by radio and television,and the dissemination of news of such proceedings by othermethods and media of communication." If this or similar resolutions reach the floor for debate,the question would be wide open again. It's been argued that televising legislative processes couldadd considerably to people's understanding of representa-tive government.It cou!d focus attention more directly thanever on the issues before Congress and the nation.It couldhelp in training the informed citizenry essential if democracyis to function at its best. These are all possibilities well worth thinking about.There are various disadvantages,too. As an answer to the main question,"Should or shouldnot the proceedings of Congress and its Committees be tele-vised?"it looks as though a simple "yes"or "no"is notenough. Let's see why and how those galleries for spectators andthe press came to be built in the Senate and House.Let'smake sure we understand what's involved.Let's get at thebackgrounds. ## GOVERNMENT IN FULL SIGHT ORBEHIND CLOSED DOORS? "Each House,"says the Constitution,"shall keep a Journalof its proceedings and from time to time publish the same."* Democracy comes from two Greek words-demos,mean-ing the people,plus kratos,meaning power.So the powerof the people provides a key to our form of government.That's a reason why the framers of the Constitution calledfor public reports. But,adds the Constitution,both Chambers of Congressmay withhold such parts of their journals "as may in theirjudgment require secrecy." Just how completely the citizenry should become acquaint-ed with what's going on was thus left somewhat up in theair. Nothing at all is said about citizens sitting in on sessions.The Constitution leaves that for Congress and the people tofigure out. The view

FAQs

What question does the article focus on regarding Congress?

It asks whether the proceedings of Congress and its committees should be televised. It argues that the issue is not adequately answered by a simple yes or no.

How does the article describe public access to Congress today?

It explains that the House and Senate provide spectator galleries for citizens to watch their representatives, with capacities that limit attendance.

What constitutional ideas does the article use to discuss transparency and secrecy?

It cites the Constitution’s requirement for published journals while allowing both Chambers to withhold parts that require secrecy, leaving the balance of public information to judgment and practice.

Sep 21, 2026

Uploaded by Asher