American Politics
Created | Updated Sep 19, 2002
In the spirit of the late great Douglas Adams, I should like to add an entry about American Politics. Being an American, and being interested and fairly knowledgable about Politics, I find it the right thing to do.
The American Political System has three branches: The Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial. The Legislative comprises of, obviously, the legislature, or the Senate and the House (in one state, there's only one, called the house, and in several states, they call the house the assembly). It is the job of Senators and Representatives to pass laws. More specifically, it is the job of Senators and Representatives to argue about random subjects and, in the unlikely event of a bill actually being passed, tell the news media why they voted against the bill or why they were responsible for passing it single-handidly. The Executive branch is made up of the proverbial CEO of the state. Obviously, for states, they have governors, and for the nation, a President. It is the duty of the President to make the government work, or, more accurately, to veto any bill sent to him or her by the Legislative branch and then issue a press release calling the other party fascists or communists, depending upon which other party we're talking about. At the moment, with President George W. Bush, a Republican, he usually calls us Democrats communists. Of course he doesn't say that, but his minions will. If, while he's snuck out for a bit of a nap, a bill somehow makes it through the Legislature, somehow finds its way to his desk and then somehow moves past his desk and into the law books, the Judiciary system, which had snuck out for a bit of a nap itself, then gets to act upon the bill at hand, provided some lawyer files a frivolous lawsuit against it. The Judiciary system then begins at the lowest levels, the local courts, moves up through the state courts and then to a U.S. Circuit Court, where a panel of judges issues a ruling about the lawsuit. Then off the lawsuit goes to a Court of Appeals, wherein more judges appointed by distant Presidents of whom no one can remember the slightest thing other than having voted against them issue a ruling either upholding or striking down the law. Finally, if the state so decides or the bringer of the suit has enough "little green pieces of paper" (D.A.) the suit goes to the Supreme Court, where, presently, seven men and two women, all of whom have sat on the bench for longer than the average human life span (which tells you something about the ages of these distinguished barristers) strike down the law or, once in a while, uphold it, all based upon previous laws and the Constitution.
So, to review: Legislative branch argues, barely passes one bill ($150,000 per year for Representatives, $180,000 for Senators), Executive vetos most bills, signs one or two into law ($400,000 per year), Judicial strikes down those laws with stunning haste. ($200,000 per year)
Thank god for a democracy.
email comments and suggestions to: Reid Wilson, [email protected]
The American Political System has three branches: The Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial. The Legislative comprises of, obviously, the legislature, or the Senate and the House (in one state, there's only one, called the house, and in several states, they call the house the assembly). It is the job of Senators and Representatives to pass laws. More specifically, it is the job of Senators and Representatives to argue about random subjects and, in the unlikely event of a bill actually being passed, tell the news media why they voted against the bill or why they were responsible for passing it single-handidly. The Executive branch is made up of the proverbial CEO of the state. Obviously, for states, they have governors, and for the nation, a President. It is the duty of the President to make the government work, or, more accurately, to veto any bill sent to him or her by the Legislative branch and then issue a press release calling the other party fascists or communists, depending upon which other party we're talking about. At the moment, with President George W. Bush, a Republican, he usually calls us Democrats communists. Of course he doesn't say that, but his minions will. If, while he's snuck out for a bit of a nap, a bill somehow makes it through the Legislature, somehow finds its way to his desk and then somehow moves past his desk and into the law books, the Judiciary system, which had snuck out for a bit of a nap itself, then gets to act upon the bill at hand, provided some lawyer files a frivolous lawsuit against it. The Judiciary system then begins at the lowest levels, the local courts, moves up through the state courts and then to a U.S. Circuit Court, where a panel of judges issues a ruling about the lawsuit. Then off the lawsuit goes to a Court of Appeals, wherein more judges appointed by distant Presidents of whom no one can remember the slightest thing other than having voted against them issue a ruling either upholding or striking down the law. Finally, if the state so decides or the bringer of the suit has enough "little green pieces of paper" (D.A.) the suit goes to the Supreme Court, where, presently, seven men and two women, all of whom have sat on the bench for longer than the average human life span (which tells you something about the ages of these distinguished barristers) strike down the law or, once in a while, uphold it, all based upon previous laws and the Constitution.
So, to review: Legislative branch argues, barely passes one bill ($150,000 per year for Representatives, $180,000 for Senators), Executive vetos most bills, signs one or two into law ($400,000 per year), Judicial strikes down those laws with stunning haste. ($200,000 per year)
Thank god for a democracy.
email comments and suggestions to: Reid Wilson, [email protected]
