fandomhigh | US Government (Friday, February 17, 4th period)

Josh looked up from his copy of the Washington Post. "Today we learn about the presidential power of appointment." He pointed to the board where he had scrawled Cabinet-level, judicial types, diplomatic in fairly illegible handwriting.

"All of these appointments are with the advice and consent of the Senate as laid out in the Constitution, blah, blah, blah," Josh began. "There are hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of these things--someone has to be the US Ambassador to Azerbaijan, for instance, or a federal judge in Montana--but the ones that really make the news are Cabinet-level appointments and judges, especially ones heading for the Supreme Court."

He raised an eyebrow. "There have been two Supreme Court justices, including a Chief Justice, recently appointed and run through the Senate gauntlet. The White House usually vets the living crap out of these people, hoping to discover anything that might make them unqualified before sending them up to the Senate." He snickered. "This particular White House, well, slightly less so."

He sat down at his desk and kicked his feet up. "So let's pretend you're qualified in some way to be a Cabinet secretary, a judge or an ambassador to some country--which one do you pick and why?" He smiled. "It's Friday. I don't want to break your brains too much before the weekend."

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You could catch him before the Student Council meeting if you're quick.

Isabel signed in.

Peter signed in.

Marty signs in.

"I'd want to be a judge. It's a position that doesn't end with the next administration. It's also a position where you can actually make a difference. I mean seriously, does being the ambassador to Tahiti actually serve any purpose? Other then to reward some rich campaign contributer that is."

Marty pays attention to the lecture somewhat and takes decent notes, though he's more interested in class ending and sneaking looks at Angela.

"Ambassador. Get to travel to (hopefully) nice places and deal with other cultures and countries on a regular basis."

Sam signed in.

"Judge. Because you're appointed for life, can affect a wide range of issues, and you don't have to be as diplomatic as you would if you were an ambassador or cabinet member, either before or after your appointment."

Alphonse signed in.

Josh smiled. "It depends. I'm sure it matters to the people of Tahiti--there are some political appointments of ambassadors that really do matter--Russia, for instance, and France. And the Senate has to approve the ambassador positions of professionals, too--people who have worked for the State Department for thirty years or so and have to get shipped off to places like Chad which has some serious problems and requires someone who knows what they're doing."

"There are some fun ones," Josh said. "But political appointments don't go to Central Asia as a general rule. Those are saved for professional State Department types, the lucky bastards." He snickered. "But yeah, with a presence in just about every country on the planet, life as an ambassador would be pretty interesting."

Josh nodded. "Nice choice."

Angela signed in.

"I'd go with ambassador," Angela said. "I like the idea of travel, and all of that, and I'm not sure I would want the responsibility of -- you know. Judging."

"I'd have to go with ambassador as well. The travel is a good part of it; but even if you're appointed to a lesser-known country, at least they have some sort of representation, right?"

"I'd have to go with being a judge. I have a habit of trying to take on as much responsibility as I possibly can, so it's a natural progression for me."

"Seems reasonable to me," Josh said, smiling. "Any country you'd prefer?"

"Yep," Josh said. "With the exception of, um, Iran and North Korea, the United States has a diplomatic presence in every country on the face of the planet. Even it if is an ambassador and the guy who runs the computers."

"Seems reasonable to me," Josh said, smiling.

Angela sucked on her pen for a moment before answering. "I don't know. The Netherlands are inhteresting. Maybe Thailand ~~as long as they don't stick me in prison, 'cause that would be way too meta for comfort.~~ I could deal with whatever, mostly."

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US Government (Friday, February 17, 4th period)

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