General Discussion

MineralMan

(151,599 posts)

1. The President's powers are few in regard to this.

Sun Oct 6, 2013, 02:40 PM

Oct 2013

He can issue Executive Orders, but they are limited in what they can do.

Congress is equal to the Executive Branch, and the President has virtually no authority over what it does. Powers are divided three ways, and that's intentional.

Constitutionally, the President's powers are quite limited. He can, and should, use all of the power he has, but he can't do things like arrest members of Congress, call for elections, or any such thing.

Constitutionally, he might be able to declare Congress to be in recess, although that's debatable. He could also use his power to issue a State of the Union message at any time, although Congress does not have to let him speak to them in Congress. Joe Biden has some powers, as President of the Senate, but the Senate's on Obama's side anyhow, and those powers are very limited, at least by tradition, although it's unclear exactly what the VP can actually do.

Bottom line is that the United States has a very rigid structure of government, designed to limit the ability of each branch to override the other.

It's being tested right now.

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Emergency Powers of the President? [View all] demsin06 Oct 2013 OP

The President's powers are few in regard to this. MineralMan Oct 2013 #1

Patriot Act: Declare an "Economic Emergency" Katashi_itto Oct 2013 #3

Well, perhaps, but what he could do in that case MineralMan Oct 2013 #9

Or declare sedition. A admittedly long-shot of that happening, Katashi_itto Oct 2013 #11

Nope. The Constitution clearly gives Congress members immunity for MineralMan Oct 2013 #14

Incorrect. I suggest you actually read it. Instead of telling other people too. Katashi_itto Oct 2013 #19

They cannot be charged with sedition for voting on a bill. MineralMan Oct 2013 #21

Umm they are not voting, they are preventing a vote. Katashi_itto Oct 2013 #22

Please. They are acting in Congress. MineralMan Oct 2013 #23

SEC. 802. DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM. Katashi_itto Oct 2013 #29

Nice try, but it won't fly. MineralMan Oct 2013 #30

If this goes into default all the cards are on the table. Katashi_itto Oct 2013 #31

"Privilege from arrest" clause means Congress can't be arrested on a civil charge meow2u3 Oct 2013 #25

And when was one arrested for something done in Congress? MineralMan Oct 2013 #26

Bush's man, Paulson, in 2008 threatened military Martial Law using the economy as the excuse. BlueCaliDem Oct 2013 #13

I believe Congress is *the* most powerful branch of our government. BlueCaliDem Oct 2013 #7

You make a good point. MineralMan Oct 2013 #10

Yes, we have a weak Executive by design, which opened the door for the Koch Bros BlueCaliDem Oct 2013 #20

Not exactly ..... oldhippie Oct 2013 #15

Congress can pass bills without the President's signature, they just need a 2/3's majority. n/t PoliticAverse Oct 2013 #27

Let's see... LAGC Oct 2013 #2

oh please demsin06 Oct 2013 #8

Do we have a rolled-up US Constitution someplace we can smack OPs like this with? Geez. (nt) Posteritatis Oct 2013 #4

dont reply if you get so annoyed demsin06 Oct 2013 #6

Yeah, we're the ones that need to calm down ...... oldhippie Oct 2013 #16

Well there is 18 USC � 2383 - Rebellion or insurrection demsin06 Oct 2013 #5

Get a grip. Nuclear Unicorn Oct 2013 #28

So push for some kind of Enabling Act and imprison anyone who opposes him. Nye Bevan Oct 2013 #12

What kind of authoritarian nonsense is this? tritsofme Oct 2013 #17

There's a part of me that would like to see Obama go all "Chancellor Palpatine" on their asses. PragmaticLiberal Oct 2013 #18

Take heart in that Boehner lies. This is likely just another and he'll flip at the last moment. Kablooie Oct 2013 #24