I’d love to see Palin gavel in the Senate…Senators, I’ve placed a copy of the Constitution on your desks & we’re going to go through line by line today.

I think VP Palin should insist on actively presiding over the Senate on a fairly regular basis. You want reform? Let’s give it to them right in the heart of DC.
Article I, sec. 3

“Constitutional Law Scholar” Biden’s Article I Gaffe

“Vice President Cheney has probably been the most dangerous Vice President we’ve had in American history. He has the idea…he doesn’t realize that Article I of the Constitution defines the role of the Vice President of the United States. That’s the executive. He works in the executive branch. He should understand that. Everyone should understand that.

And the primary role of the Vice President of the United States of America is to support the President of the United States of America. Give that President his or her best judgment when sought and as the Vice President to preside over the senate only in a time when in fact there is a tie vote. The constitution is explicit, the only authority the Vice President has from a legislative standpoint is to vote only when there is a tie vote. He has no authority relative to the Congress. The idea that he’s a part of the legislative branch is a bizarre notion invented by Cheney to aggrandize the power of the unitary executive..and look where it’s gotten us.

Biden is just plain wrong about this. First of all, Article I defines the legislative branch, including its composition and the scope of its powers and the powers and privileges of its members. Article I, sec. 3, clause 4 is the first time the Vice President is mentioned in the Constitution. It gives the Vice President an important role to play:

The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided. Read more–>