Editorials & Other Articles

Mike 03

(17,378 posts)

4. I wish we knew for certain what the president's

Reply to Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin (Original post)

Fri Dec 6, 2024, 06:28 PM

Dec 6

so-called "Secret Emergency Powers" are. Didn't Trump, during an unguarded moment during his first term, make some statement that (paraphrasing) the president has powers nobody even knows about, implying they are extraordinary.

As one recent government document describes them, they are designed “to implement extraordinary presidential authority in response to extraordinary situations.”

PEADs are classified “secret,” and no PEAD has ever been declassified or leaked. Indeed, it appears that they are not even subject to congressional oversight. Although the law requires the executive branch to report even the most sensitive covert military and intelligence operations to at least some members of Congress, there is no such disclosure requirement for PEADs, and no evidence that the documents have ever been shared with relevant congressional committees.

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/presidential-emergency-action-documents

One of the powers I'm most worried about would be the power, after declaring an arbitrary emergency, to dissolve congress altogether and unilaterally make decisions via executive order.

Another would be the power to redefine the majority needed in the House and Senate to make important legislation that would normally require 2/3 approval.

I don't know the answer to this question, but I ask it because it has been a very popular technique among autocrats: Can he lengthen the term of the presidency from 4 to 6 years? Can he do it with simple majorities in the House and Senate? (Likewise, can he maneuver in such a way that he is eligible to run for a third term?)

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Comment: Musk's DOGE plans can't dodge Constitution [View all] Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Dec 6 OP

But Trump's SCOTUS can. 50 Shades Of Blue Dec 6 #1

This is the thing... Mike 03 Dec 6 #2

LOL Skittles Dec 6 #3

I wish we knew for certain what the president's Mike 03 Dec 6 #4

In a just world, Musk would have to divest himself of all his companies alarimer Dec 6 #5