I just had an idea re: signing statements

[LuckyTheDog]

Why don't we champion the passage of a Constitutional amendment to make null and void all presidential signing statements attached to bills?

:think:

:dem: 4 Ever

[msongs]

1. they are already null and void and unconstitutional and the dems ought to

say so loudly and clearly. Signing statements have no merit whatsoever and will be ignored.

Msongs
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[lonestarnot]

2. But will they be ignored?

[LuckyTheDog]

4. RIGHT

An amendment would put the whole issue to rest permanently.

[Golden Raisin]

9. The Republicans ought to too!

Signing statements are an attack on the Legislative branch (Democrats AND Republicans). Signing statements repudiate the concept of checks and balances, consolidate power in the Executive branch and effectively neuter, give-the-finger-to Congress. Congresspeople of BOTH parties ought to be up in arms about this. Accent on "ought".

[sweetheart]

3. There is no constitution

There is no law... do whatever you want.

The constitution is a joke, ha ha... ha ha... everybody laughs,
and nobody can read, the court is too ignorant to understand the document,
except a bunch of cockups who hear a new constitution on dictation from god,
the "original" document is unwritten, and says to the people of the world
to take back government by the people, for the people and of the people.

[LuckyTheDog]

5. The republic ain't dead yet! (nt)

[sweetheart]

14. Depends if you're a prison slave or a nobleman..

The republic is dead for its slaves:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=1283288&mesg_id=1283288

[Ilsa]

6. Either that or we should all be able to make signing statements

that the law doesn't apply to us individually, either. That should prove how absurd junior is.

[jody]

7. Agree re signing statements but executive orders that make law are also

unconstitutional.

[TechBear_Seattle]

8. Executive orders have never made law

EOs are nothing more that statements of policy. The entire scope of an EO is to direct the Executive Branch (ie the federal bureaucracy) to a particular course of action. In most cases, Congress has full power to override an executive order.

[jody]

10. Suggest you study presidential executive orders because they do make law.

See Executive order

For example, John Lindh was convicted of violating an executive order signed by President Clinton, Executive Order 13129. See Statement of Facts

[TechBear_Seattle]

13. Did you read it?

"Some orders do have the force of law when made in pursuance of certain Acts of Congress due to those acts giving the President discretionary powers." In other words, executive orders only have the force of law when Congress has, by legislative act, granted such power to the Executive. Further, since the 1952 ruling in YOUNGSTOWN CO. v. SAWYER, 343 U.S. 579, Presidents have had to take care and cite the specific federal laws under which their executive orders are authorized. Lastly, the Wikipedia entry mentions the 1935 ruling of A.L.A. SCHECHTER POULTRY CORPORATION v. UNITED STATES, 295 U.S. 495, wherein the Court ruled that Congress could not delegate legislative power to the President; at best, Congress could only authorize the President to act within already existing legislative boundaries.

In short, Exectutive Orders do not make law, which is what I had stated.

[jody]

15. Please read it more carefully. Executive orders do have the force of law.

George Bush has used executive orders to usurp the power of congress.

Please read one persons opinion, "George W. Bush as the New Richard M. Nixon: Both Wiretapped Illegally, and Impeachably; Both Claimed That a President May Violate Congress' Laws to Protect National Security"

QUOTE
It was a long story loaded with astonishing information of lawbreaking at the White House. It reported that sometime in 2002, Bush issued an executive order authorizing NSA to track and intercept international telephone and/or email exchanges coming into, or out of, the U.S. - when one party was believed to have direct or indirect ties with al Qaeda.
UNQUOTE

Other legal experts disagree with the author.

[kansasblue]

11. so couldn't governors use signining statements?

See to me to be the same relationship

[LuckyTheDog]

12. That's a state issue

Each state would have to amend its own state constitution.

[jody]

16. Governors use executive orders for the same purpose. n/t