US: The unitary executive is the alleged legal basis of Trump's authoritarianism

[littlemissmartypants]

US: The unitary executive is the alleged legal basis of Trump's authoritarianism

16 March 2025, 6:45

di Stefano Luconi

The unitary executive is a theory that gives the president total control over the government. Trump has tried to use it to centralize power, undermining the independence of institutions and reinforcing an authoritarian approach.

The temptation of Donald Trump to give the United States government a turn in the right direction authoritarian It is not just about his overall initiatives. It also involves his attempt to alter the balance of power in favor of the president, setting a precedent that could affect federal institutions well beyond the end of the tycoon's second administration.

One of these aspects, probably the main one, is the question of the unitary executive. By appealing to this legally controversial theory, Trump would like to subject the entire federal administration to himself and free himself from the constitutional controls of Congress and independent agencies, with the specious justification of having to eradicate the Deep State opposition, the bureaucratic apparatus.

According to The Donald's narrative, federal officials appointed by his predecessors or entered the civil service through competitive examinations are plotting to hinder the implementation of Trump's program, preventing the tycoon from achieving the objectives for which he was re-elected by popular acclaim to the White House for a second term last November.
Snip...much more...
https://www.firstonline.info/en/usa-and-the-unitary-executive-the-alleged-legal-basis-of-trump%27s-authoritarianism/

❤️pants

[JT45242]

1. It's not "legally controversial" ...in the US it's obviously wrong and unconstitutional

The wanna be fascists call it a "novel legal theory" the rest of us should call it what it is: a bullshit justification for fascism with no basis in serious legal rationales.

It is the government equivalent of a preschooler coming up with reasons that they should decide what the family eats, where it goes, and what time is bedtime.

This is the kind of fill the airwaves with bullshit that authoritarian wannabes always do.

[gab13by13]

5. Fantastic explanation.

The thread is just another right wing talking point that needs to be rebutted just like you did.

There is no rationale to destroy our democracy by eliminating checks and balances.

[Martin Eden]

8. Yep. It eliminates the constitutional separation of powers

Anyone advancing that theory seeks to replace our Constitutional republic with authoritarianism.

[pat_k]

2. House Dems, it's time to draft articles of impeachment against his unitary ass.

And to call on We the People to stand up for the principles on which our government was founded and demand their representatives pass the damn articles or face being voted out by angry American's sick to death of his unitary ass.

Theory, smeory.

It is ultimately up to We the People, through our representatives in the House (to declare the crimes) and members of the Senate (to pass judgment), to decide what constitutes a high crime against us. And I'm pretty sure we can make the case that our form of government doesn't tolerate Kings (another word for unitary executive).

[gab13by13]

6. Krasnov won't even get indicted in the House

let alone convicted in the Senate.

Town halls were working, the people were turning on Krasnov, Democrats were going out to the people and telling them what Trump was doing to them, and then Chuck Schumer kneecapped Hakeem Jeffries.

Our message won't be as strong now that Democrats (only a slim minority) have agreed to give Elon Musk the powers that were vested to Congress in Art. 1, Sec. 8 of the Constitution.

[Liberal In Texas]

3. "... re-elected by popular acclaim..."

What bullshit. I know he's couched it in "according to The Donald's narrative." The right comes up with labels that sound positive or at least unbiased but "unitary executive" is just a synonym for dictator or king. The right has been jonesing for this for at least 50 years.

It's at least an interesting take from a foreign writer in Padua, Italy.

[EverHopeful]

4. For years i thought that if I ever had the chance to ask Darth Cheney a question,

I'd ask why we really invaded Iraq but now I'd love to ask how he feels about his unitary executive advocacy.

[surfered]

7. Still question the legal authority for the President to ignore or change Congress' appropriations laws.

The Supreme Court ruled the “Line Item Veto” unconstitutional. Of course, it was a Democratic President at the time. I wonder if they will follow precedent against a Republican President.

[GiqueCee]

9. "Unitary Executive" is...

... what Cheney and Rumsfeld championed during the reign of Bush the Lesser. They were juggling too many running chainsaws at once to pull it off then, but they're giggling with delight now.
If we don't fight them with everything we've got, and refuse to acquiesce to anything they demand, it will be just as the Gangrenous Boil on the Ass of Humanity said during his campaign: "You won't ever have to vote again." Then the only solution will be a protracted and bloody civil war. Are the Terrible Ten listening? They'd better be.

[OhioTim]

10. I Don't Think We Will See Anothe Free

election anytime soon. Trump is in the process of controlling all of the government's powers. When he's done, nobody can stop him. Forget the Supreme Court. Even if they rule against him, any any matter, they have no way of enforcing their rulings other than people being willing to obey laws. If he gets tired of being president after this tern he will probably appoint one of his idiot sons to replace him under Marshall law.

[Cosmocat]

11. They push thus bs every time

There is an R POTUS, while railing about how power hungry Ds R, screaming about checks and balances and bipartisanship when there is D POTUS.

[Horse with no Name]

12. If Unitary Executive was a "thing"

Nobody would owe any student loans
Everyone would have free healthcare
We wouldn’t have an electoral college
Should I go on?