O protect against the attacks of the Enlightenment, government and church authorities waged a war of censorship, or restricting access to ideas and information. New literature, the arts, science, and philosophy were regular topics of discussions in salons, or informal social gatherings at which writers, artists, philosophies, and others exchanged ideas. In the age of Louis XIV, courtly art and architecture were either in the Greek or Roman tradition or in grand, ornate style known as baroque. Rococo art moved away from religion and, unlike the heavy splendor of baroque, was lighter, elegant, and charming.
Frederick the Great reduced the use of torture, allowed a free press, reorganized the government's civil service, simplified laws, and tolerated religious differences for his duty to work for the common good. Catherine the Great read the works of philosophies, abolished torture, established religious tolerance in her lands, granted nobles a charter of rights, and criticized the institution of serfdom. Joseph II began to modernize Austria's government, supported religious equality for Protestants and Jews, ended censorship by allowing free press, sold monasteries to use its proceeds to support education and care for the sick, and abolished serfdom.
Conference committees are often a necessary part of the federal legislative process because bills reviewed by these committees cannot be vetoed by the president.
