(via Think Progress)
Q: Brandon Garcia wants to know, “What does the Vice President do?”
PALIN: That’s something that Piper would ask me! … [T]hey’re in charge of the U.S. Senate so if they want to they can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes that will make life better for Brandon and his family and his classroom.
One would think knowing what the Vice President does would be something a running mate should know…
The V-P is the President of the US Senate. While Senators don’t wish the V-P to hang around the Senate, the V-P has the constitutionally right to preside over the Senate every moment it’s in session.
From Article I of the United States Constitution:
That does not translate into being in charge of the US Senate.
The V-P can sit at that President chair and rule who may have the floor! The Senate is pretty easy at adjusting to each other.
Any VP going into the Senate thinking he or she “can really get in there with the senators and make a lot of good policy changes” is in for a rude awakening. Especially if the VP is in the minority party.