Can the president simply shut down Congress on a whim? Some people think he has this power. As one commenter put it in a Facebook post, "Article 2 Section 3 during extraordinary circumstances the president can send Congress away." (more…)
Read moreThoughts from Maharrey Head #64: Presidential Powers
"10 Minutes Closer to Freedom" In this episode of Thoughts from Maharrey Head, I talk about the proper constitutional role and powers of the president. During the recent presidential debate, both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump talked extensively about what they plan to "do" if elected president. As I watched, it occurred to me that..
Read moreWhy Do You Want a King?
Why do Americans want a king? The American colonists fought a long, bloody war to free themselves from the tyranny of a king, but in the ensuing 240 years, America has slowly but surely reestablished a monarchy - if not in name, at least in form. The president exercises unprecedented powers today. With the stroke..
Read moreConstitution 101: Executive Power
Article II of the Constitution defines the role and qualifications of the president. As it does for Congress, the Constitution delegates specific powers and responsibilities to the executive branch – the power of appointment, the power to make treaties with the advice and consent of Congress, veto power, etc. These specific powers are relatively clear..
Read moreConstitution 101: Natural Born Citizen
Article II Sec. 1 of the Constitution lays out requirements for the presidency, including a stipulation that “No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.” We find little debate about the reason..
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