Peruvian Congress

Today we took a visit to the Peruvian Congress after an insightful briefing on the functions of the Congressional arena. Though the U.S. and Peruvian government are different on many levels, I felt comfortable in this type of environment through my past experiences. Last summer I had the wonderful opportunity to work as an intern in Washington. This internship exposed me to the political process, especially congressional work. The experience in D.C. gave me a wealth of knowledge that I hoped to now use for my thoughts on the Peruvian Congress.
Once we arrived to the Congress building, we entered the structure's gates and were immediately greeted by a tour guide. Inside, we walked through the lobby which displayed a massive painting of an early 1800’s Congress in session. After a brief introduction from our tour guide, she led us down a hallway where we passed the offices of some of Peru’s highest ranking political officials.
The hallway led to a corridor that opened into a room once used for the senate, which was eventually dissolved and dismissed. The old senate room was filled with paintings and stained glass and had a breathtaking design. The old room is now used for important meetings, especially those of international policies and interest. Finally we were brought to the actual congressional chamber to see Congress perform while in session. Unfortunately, we ended our tour with bad news when we were informed that we were not able to enter the chamber. This upset me, because I know that the U.S. Congress would never have turned away anybody, regardless of foreign visitors/tourist/students. This was not a big deal to others but was an indicator of the way Peru’s Congress handles their affairs. There was a cold feeling within our group knowing that security wouldn’t allow a group of Americans into the chamber; you can only wonder how hard it is for a citizen of Peru. Now we have the notion that things are simply not being done. The U.S. and Peruvian Congress are similar in terms of elegance, but in reality their prerogatives are far from being just “different.” The afternoon ended with a lunch in Chinatown and a free evening to venture the wonders of Lima.

Evan Winey: Political Science BS