On December 18, if the candidates tie in the Electoral College or if neither has a majority, the House chooses the president, and the Senate chooses the vice president. This will be the duty of the new 107th Congress in January. Hey Bruce, remember, the House voted over 30 times (!) before electing Thomas Jefferson, one of our greatest Presidents. If no new president or vice president has been selected by January 20th, the Presidential Succession Act makes the new speaker of the House, probably Republican Dennis Hastert, the president. Here is a ref about Tom DeLay's preliminary work on this issue:
nytimes.com
The new 107th Congress will swear-in new members on Jan. 5th. Also on Jan. 5, the president of the Senate,Vice President Gore, announces the winner of the presidential election to a joint congressional session. The meeting is usually ceremonial, but both parties have suggested that members could raise written objections to Florida's electoral votes, which would require a majority of both houses for approval.
"A further complication is the close margin in the Senate. If Democrat Maria Cantwell defeats GOP Sen. Slade Gorton of Washington in the last outstanding Senate race, the chamber will be locked in a 50 -50 tie that could only be broken by Gore, at least until the Clinton-Gore administration ends at noon, Jan. 20. If Gorton wins, Republicans would hold a 51/49 edge"
latimes.com
And if you want to lighten up try this one:
nytimes.com
--cfl@theperfectpatrioticoutcometothecynicalscriptedcampaigntheybothran.gov
==========
law.emory.edu
US Constitution
Article XX.
Section 1.
The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January, and the terms of Senators and Representatives at noon on the 3d day of January, of the years in which such terms would have ended if this article had not been ratified; and the terms of their successors shall then begin.
Section 2.
The Congress shall assemble at least once in every year, and such meeting shall begin at noon on the 3d day of January, unless they shall by law appoint a different day. |
