Lin Qi and Mr. Truman had not seen each other for some time. For one thing, there had been no need for them to meet in person.
Secondly, Mr. Truman's work had been growing increasingly busy.
The war had concentrated all the nation's power in his hands. Although the congressmen seemed very active now, as if they had not been affected at all—
Only they themselves knew that this was actually just the most basic show of decorum between the Presidential Palace and Congress.
In theory, even if Mr. Truman temporarily dissolved Congress now, there would be no problem.
That was because there was basically nothing Congress needed to handle at present. This referred to procedural matters.
In the past, Congress had been responsible for proposing, voting on, and legislating bills, as well as handling various committees and the entire Federation's budget and appropriations. It had also imposed various restrictions on the President's power.
But after the war broke out, all those powers belonging to Congress had been reclaimed by the President. At the same time, Congress no longer had the power to impeach the President.
Besides, congressmen were replaced once every two years—at least on the surface. So even if the Federal President dissolved Congress during the war, nothing would happen! Once the war ended, the power in the President's hands would be delegated again, and Congress could simply be reestablished!
Reason was ultimately just reason. Decorum still had to be maintained, especially this most basic level of decorum.
Much of the work that Congress had once been solely responsible for had begun concentrating in the Presidential Palace, which made Mr. Truman increasingly busy.
It was during these hectic days that Mr. Truman called Lin Qi and asked to have a chat.
That weekend, the two of them sat