Although The Senate is empowered to decide questions of impeachment, I would argue that they are not empowered to decide questions of constitutional interpretation.
The question they decided today is not one which the Senate could have or should have decided, but rather should have referred to the Supreme Court for decision prior to going forward.
it was not set up to function as a judicial tribunal, or to decide questions of law as such, much less questions of law on constitutional interpretation.
It is hardly the kind of question which should have been disposed of by a vote, which is normally reserved for the kinds of questions juries are called to decide as questions of fact, not of law, much less of constitutionla interpretation..
if the Senate should decide this question of constitutional interpretation by vote, then why shouldn't it decide all such questions by vote and dispense with the Supreme court altogether?
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