BACKGROUND
As Chairman of the Foreign Operations subcommittee of the Appropriations committee, 'Cardinal' McConnell handles the drafting of legislation and allocation of funds to the World Bank, IMF, United Nations, Peace Corps and AID as well as to development banks and certain areas of the State Department involved with narcotics control, refugees and anti-terrorist activities.

PREMISE OF THE SUIT
Diamonds are members of the U.S. Senate. There are two Senators for each state in the union, regardless of population. After working out differences in conference with House, the Senate passes the legislation that becomes the "law of the land." The most powerful Senators are the majority leadership and the committee chairs, which are always members of the majority party. Chairmen of the subcommittees of Appropriations are known as 'Cardinals' due to the power they wield over the allocation of federal funds. Senators serve for six-year terms and are in power because you voted for them.

LINKS
www.mcconnell.senate.gov/about.cfm
www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/e_one_section_
no_teasers/org_chart.htm