Author Topic: Emergencies  (Read 284 times)

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Offline Super Colin Blow

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Emergencies
« on: March 29, 2019, 08:08:55 am »
Presidents of the United States have since used this or that crisis to try to bypass the normal legislative procedure. Wilson used WWI to do just about anything to circumvent Congress or the Constitution (e.g., "OMG the Krauts are taking over!!!!), and it's happened many times ever since. The National Emergency Act was written, not to GIVE the president powers to declare emergencies, but to define and limit his powers to do so.

So, what constitutes a "real" emergency, one that is "appropriate" to circumvent the normal legislative and legal processes due to some sort of exigency? When is it right for the president to declare an emergency, and when does it amount to a power grab by, or a political convenience for, the president?

Excuse the photo below, I just thought it was terribly appropriate for this discussion.  ;)

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« Last Edit: March 29, 2019, 08:55:35 am by John Mark Taylor »
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

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Offline Super Colin Blow

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Re: Emergencies
« Reply #1 on: April 17, 2019, 04:09:31 pm »
Damn, nobody? Thought this would interest at least someone, lol.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Offline segnosaur

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Re: Emergencies
« Reply #2 on: April 18, 2019, 11:53:14 am »
So, what constitutes a "real" emergency, one that is "appropriate" to circumvent the normal legislative and legal processes due to some sort of exigency? When is it right for the president to declare an emergency, and when does it amount to a power grab by, or a political convenience for, the president?
I suspect its kind of like the definition used for 'pornography'.... I can't define it, but I know it when I see it.

Perhaps a good rule of thumb is that: If there is enough time to debate the merits of the "emergency declaration" (either through multiple levels of the court system, or through legislative action), then it probably shouldn't be called an "emergency".

Offline Super Colin Blow

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Re: Emergencies
« Reply #3 on: April 18, 2019, 12:57:27 pm »
Good point. When Lincoln (unconstitutionally) suspended Habeas Corpus in Maryland, he was acting in haste. There was actually a rebellion about.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Offline Super Colin Blow

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Re: Emergencies
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2019, 05:53:03 am »
Personally, I don't think the president should be able to veto the rebuttal to his own emergency declaration.
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH