From Washington Straight

The-Strange Case of Thomas Kuchel

A fortnight ago, Governor Pat Brown appointed Democrat Pierre Salinger to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator Clair Engle, another Democrat. When Salinger presented himself for admission to the Senate, the Republican leadership questioned his qualifications for the office. Under California law senators from that state must be residents thereof for not less than one year prior to their election or appointment. Salinger, by his own admission, has not lived in California since 1955. But the Democrats held that he was entitled to be seated in the Senate because the U.S. Constitution overrides any and all state codes and because each branch of the Congress is “sole judge” of its membership.

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The-Strange Case of Thomas Kuchel

A fortnight ago, Governor Pat Brown appointed Democrat Pierre Salinger to fill the unexpired term of the late Senator Clair Engle, another Democrat. When Salinger presented himself for admission to the Senate, the Republican leadership questioned his qualifications for the office. Under California law senators from that state must be residents thereof for not less than one year prior to their election or appointment. Salinger, by his own admission, has not lived in California since 1955. But the Democrats held that he was entitled to be seated in the Senate because the U.S. Constitution overrides any and all state codes and because each branch of the Congress is “sole judge” of its membership.