By ROGER SIMON
Politico.com
10/9/09
Bob Dove worked in the U.S. Senate for 35 years, has both a Ph.D. and a law degree, and now lectures on the world’s greatest deliberative body both at The George Washington University and on the occasional cruise ship.
When I asked him the main function the Senate serves, his answer was quick, firm and surprising.
“The U.S. Senate is designed to keep bad laws from passing,” Dove said.
Isn’t that a pretty negative role? I asked.
“Good laws are also passed, but the Senate is there to keep bad bills from becoming law,” Dove said. “It is a check on the House, on the president, on the public. It is difficult to get a bill passed into law, and it is supposed to be.”
Dove served as parliamentarian of the Senate for 13 years…
…Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 2 of the Constitution, states that presidents shall “by and with the advice and consent of the Senate” exercise certain of their powers.
“It really argues for the Senate to be a powerful force to check a president,” Dove said, “which is clearly something the House does not do.”
Roger Simon’s article continues at Politico.com.
