You mean like the Speaker of the House going to foreign Countries and conducting Foreign Policy?
The role of the Speaker of the House, and every member of Congress is to be aware of foreign affairs, and it is their responsibility to learn those things and the people who drafted the Constitution recognized that. Even I, who doesn't agree with the premise of the Constitution understands that this is a function that they possess. They make legislative decisions that require them to know and to understand these complicated issues. The discussion about the length of the term of members of Congress and their eligibility to run for re-election involved this very issue. It was argued that they would be required to know the "law of nations," and to understand foreign policy.
The supporters of the Constitution stated in the Federalist Papers, "No man can be a competent legislator who does not add to an upright intention and a sound judgment a certain degree of knowledge of the subjects on which he is to legislate." This in the most general sense tells us that those who drafted the Constitution felt that legislators should possess a degree of knowledge on any matter that comes before a legislative body. They went on to say, "A part of this knowledge may be acquired by means of information which lie within the compass of men in private as well as public stations. Another part can only be attained, or at least thoroughly attained, by actual experience in the station which requires the use of it. The period of service, ought, therefore, in all such cases, to bear some proportion to the extent of practical knowledge requisite to the due performance of the service." So those who supported the Constitution felt that leislators could only acquire portions of their knowledge by experience. What knowledge must a Representative and Senator possess when it comes to foreign affairs?
The Federalist Papers state, "A branch of knowledge which belongs to the acquirements of a federal representative, and which has not been mentioned is that of foreign affairs. In regulating our own commerce he ought to be not only acquainted with the treaties between the United States and other nations, but also with the commercial policy and laws of other nations. He ought not to be altogether ignorant of the law of nations; for that, as far as it is a proper object of municipal legislation, is submitted to the federal government." Simply stated, our Senators and Representatives must possess a knowledge of foreign affairs. They went on to say, "And although the House of Representatives is not immediately to participate in foreign negotiations and arrangements, yet from the necessary connection between the several branches of public affairs, those particular branches will frequently deserve attention in the ordinary course of legislation, and will sometimes demand particular legislative sanction and co-operation." This statement alone should tell you what common sense and reason tells us. If someone is going to legislate regarding matters of foreign policy they must understand these things. They must posses a knowledge of our treaties, the laws of other nations but most importantly the "law of nations."
To be even more clear about what they felt and thought, "Some portion of this knowledge may, no doubt, be acquired in a man's closet; but some of it also can only be derived from the public sources of information; and all of it will be acquired to best effect by a practical attention to the subject during the period of actual service in the legislature." Nancy Pelosi wasn't acting as a negiotator for the United States when she visits foreign nations and speaks with their legislators and their officers of Government instead she is acting as a Representative of the 8th District of California and as Speaker of the House. She has the same right as every other legislator to have foreign policy discussions with the government of other nations. This is a given, if she is going to represent the people of her district in Congress when it comes to matters of foreign policy then she must be able to understand that policy.
But, let us now put this aside for a moment and ask ourselves why Nancy Pelosi would do what many others in the legislature would not. That is to explain why her actions may be more to the point with the leaders and representatives of the government of other nations and why she would choose to develop relationships with them. The answer to that is that Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House which means that she is second in line to become President of the United States. She will become President if Bush and Cheney were to become incapaciated or deceased. In our time, when terrorist attacks are becoming more frequent the President could be killed and the Vice President wounded so badly that Nancy Pelosi would become Acting President of the United States it is essential that she be able to be to call up the leader of a foreign nation and say "this is Nancy, I need your help." If the Vice President were to then die she would become the President of this country and she would not only need to possess a knowledge of foreign policy but she would have to set foreign policy in consultation with the Senate and furthermore, but less so, the House. This means she must possess a certain amount of knowledge and have a relationship with the leaders of other nations. This is simply common sense. A CEO is still a CEO in a company but those in line to succeed him in that office often develop relationships with business partners, and with other companies. This isn't any different from our Government.
Cheney is: an alien from mars
