Duties of the Senate

            The topic of discussion for this Constitution Monday concerns the duties of the United States Senate. According to Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, the Senate has four basic duties: 1) work with the House of Representatives to legislate and pass bills, 2) approve any treaties made by the President, 3) approve appointments made by the President to federal positions, and 4) vote on removal from office after impeachment. In my way of thinking, they are not doing due diligence in their jobs.

            The Senate and House are passing the power to legislate to other branches. Barack Obama overstepped his authority as the President and made laws by executive orders, and Donald Trump has used his authority to change or delete those same laws. The Senate has failed so much in their duty to legislate that the Supreme Court justices have taken on the job of super legislators. This is the reason why we are seeing such circuses taking place during confirmation.

            The “advice and consent” clause means that the Senate must be consulted and must approve the treaties made by the President. The Senate did not do its job during the Obama administration, and the Iran agreement is one example of it. Like so many other things, Trump had to get us out of that bad treaty.

            As far as the duty to “advice and consent” about judges, the Democrats in the Senate have turned the confirmation of nominees to the Supreme Court into a circus. The Brett Kavanaugh confirmation process clearly shows that the Senators are overstepping their bounds.

            The Senate is charged with the duty to remove from office any President, judges, and other federal officers. Their job starts AFTER the House of Representatives votes on Articles of Impeachment. Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were both impeached by the House but later acquitted by the Senate.