How does Congress authorize an investigation?

[LondonReign2]

Okay folks, how does an investigation actually get started? Does it require a majority vote? In a particular committee? If so, does this mean we actually need at least one Republican to side with the Dems calling for a full investigation?

[Friar]

1. I think the chairman

of the overseeing commission has to authorize an investigation. That's why majority rule is so important.

[Old and In the Way]

2. That is why Cheney/Bush campaigned in the midterms like their

lives depended on it.

IMHO, it is far more important that a Democratic majority get elected to the House and Senate in 2004. If that happens, then it wouldn't matter if Bush wins, because we could then control the investigations and impeachment process.

Republicans will never vote against this President....he could be sacrificing virgins on the back lawn of the WH and guys like Roberts would see no need to investigate the acts.

Bunch of disgusting immoral hypocrites...

[hedda_foil]

3. I think it's a majority in the committee ...

The chairman has a lot of influence, but I don't think he can stop a majority vote in the committee from proceeding.

Hagel (R-NE), who's on the Intelligence Committee, has basically called for a full investigation of everybody and everything. It looks to me as if they have a majority right now unless Bayh goes with the Repukes. On the other hand, Snowe could vote with Hagel:

MEMBERSHIP

REPUBLICANS DEMOCRATS
Pat Roberts, Kansas
Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV
West Virginia, Vice Chairman
Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Carl Levin, Michigan
Mike Dewine, Ohio Dianne Feinstein, California
Christopher S. Bond, Missouri Ron Wyden, Oregon
Trent Lott, Mississippi Richard J. Durbin, Illinois
Olympia J. Snowe, Maine Evan Bayh, Indiana
Chuck Hagel, Nebraska John Edwards, North Carolina
Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland
John W. Warner, Virginia


MEMBERSHIP

REPUBLICANS DEMOCRATS
Pat Roberts, Kansas
Chairman John D. Rockefeller IV
West Virginia, Vice Chairman
Orrin G. Hatch, Utah Carl Levin, Michigan
Mike Dewine, Ohio Dianne Feinstein, California
Christopher S. Bond, Missouri Ron Wyden, Oregon
Trent Lott, Mississippi Richard J. Durbin, Illinois
Olympia J. Snowe, Maine Evan Bayh, Indiana
Chuck Hagel, Nebraska John Edwards, North Carolina
Saxby Chambliss, Georgia Barbara A. Mikulski, Maryland
John W. Warner, Virginia