Everett Dirksen Quotes

It is a breach of order in debate to notice what has been said on the same subject in the other House, or the particular votes or majorities on it there, because the opinion of each house should be left to its own independency, not to be influenced by the proceedings of the other; and the quoting them might beget reflections leading to a misunderstanding between the two Houses.

The essence of debate in Parliament is spontaneous.

I would like to add some legislative history at the end of my remarks.

The authority of Congress must be respected …. The President must confine himself to his executive duties—to obey and execute, not make the laws.

Legislatures have no right to set up an inquisition and examine into the private opinions of men.

Parliament is a grand inquest which has the right to inquire into anything and everything.

The leaders of the Senate ... have no power delegated to them except on the basis of courtesy, accommodation, and a sense of responsibility.

Point of order. It is a monumental embarrassment for us who intend to vote against this bill that we appear to be on the same side as the speaker.

When a Speaker of the House can wield such power that he can "create" a new legislative day with the flick of his gavel ..., something is wrong.

Sound bite hearings and sound bite journalism feed off each other.

Anyone who works in the Senate is often in doubt as to the will of the Senate.

It is necessary to investigate before legislating. But the line between investigation and persecution is a fine one.

Congress shall not make or declare war, or authorize acts of hostility against any foreign nation, without the concurrence of two-thirds of both Houses, except such acts of hostility be in defense of the territories of the United States when actually invaded.

The Founders of this Nation entrusted the lawmaking power to the Congress alone in both good and bad times … the President's power to see that the laws are faithfully executed refutes the idea that he is to be a law-maker.

Each house may punish, by imprisonment during their session, any person not a member, who shall be guilty of disrespect to the house, by any disorderly or contemptuous behavior in their presence; provided that such imprisonment shall not; at one time, exceed twenty-four hours.

I am no convert to any doctrine of the omnipotence of Congress.

It is up to Congress to see to it that its powers do not slip through its fingers

As a new member (of Parliament) you will also be instructed in the details of what is expected from you as a backbencher…. It will be made clear to you that your role in the decision-making process is to raise your hand when you are told to and to occupy your seat in the house when it is required.

The speech at issue are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature that they present a clear and present danger that they would bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent.

In this Congress, we are not obliged to be bound by the dead hand of the past Congress

To be objective you don't have to be an adversary. You don't have to be a bulldog tearing down everything. To make the system of checks and balances and separation of powers work, you don't have to be on their ass all the time.

Theirs is a Spartan morality. Not the corruption but the discovery that constitutes the crime. Instead of applauding the investigators, they make war on the investigation. Instead of condemning the exposed and praising the exposure, they praised the exposed and condemned the exposure

I desire to secure every privilege and every right to every citizen in the United States…. I understand the amendment ... to authorize Congress to establish uniform laws throughout the United States upon the subject named, the protection of life, liberty, and property. I am unwilling that Congress shall have any such power

Congress’ duty to the voters requires it to monitor how military appropriations are spent and to investigate the army’s failures if it was not willing to investigate itself. What are we to do? Sit idle during all the period that the [Civil] war is in progress?

War is best left to the Generals. I believe in letting the military authorities manage the army. If they manage it badly, we shall make a bad matter worse by tampering and interfering.