Saturday, November 12, 2011

Commentary on the Unites States Constitution Article 1 Section 5


This section deals with the membership, rules, journals, and adjournment. It gives each House the authority to judge their elections, returns and member qualifications.

It establishes a majority of members of each house has to do present to conduct and business other than adjourning for the day. A minority can also be allowed to compel absent members to attend meetings by appropriate penalties.

The House and Senate are allowed to set there own rules and punish members as needed up to expelling a member by a 2/3 vote. They are also required to keep a record of their, meetings that has to be publish with the exception of parts that more than 4/5 those members present are deemed should remain secret. This was allowed because national security some times requires secrecy.

Both the House and Senate need each others consent to adjourn for more than three days, or to a place other than there normal meeting place.

This system has been proven to generally work well but it has from time to time been abused, For example Obama Care was passed through the House of representatives by way by passing all normal procedures to pass the senate version it would have failed to pass the senate again following a special election to fill a vacancy,   

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