Bush Bailout Article Review

In this article about Bush's influence on the bailout bill from the Washington Post, Bush is presented as having little or no power over the outcome of the bill. It directly quotes the President saying, "With the improvements made to this bill, I'm confident that members of both parties will support it." Unfortunately for Bush, the exact opposite happened, and the bill was defeated, in large part because of opposition from over 100 Republicans. It was the largest legislative defeat of Bush's presidency and reveals Bush's slipping hold over a Congress that he was able to get to vote on wars, taxes, and surveillance. I would agree with the articles assessment that Bush has lost his power with the legislature. Normally, when the President declares something a national crisis and calls for legislation to fix it, the legislation will be handily passed. Since Bush has little sway over the Congress now, though, the bill was not passed even though he so publicly and whole-heartedly endorsed it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092903360.html

House of Reps Powers vs. Senate Powers

The House of Representatives and the Senate have almost exactly the same powers except for certain specific powers. The Senate has the exclusive power that they have to ratify treaties by a two-thirds majority vote and that appointments require a majority vote of approval. The Senate determines the punishment for impeached officials, but the House has to be the chamber to impeach an official. They can also choose the President in an electoral deadlock and can legislate spending bills. All bills have to be passed in both chambers to be sent to the President to be signed.