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Ohioboy

(3,222 posts)
Wed Jun 5, 2019, 11:38 AM Jun 2019

I would like to see a new law in this country.

A new law that limits a president's pardon ability to only cases that don't involve the president. And, that the pardon power can never be used to manipulate a person's testimony, whether that testimony involves the president or not. I think after Trump we need this.

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I would like to see a new law in this country. (Original Post) Ohioboy Jun 2019 OP
It would have to be a constitutional amendment. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2019 #1
Well, the founders allowed for that Ohioboy Jun 2019 #2
Given the requirements involved to do it BannonsLiver Jun 2019 #4
Unfortunately, I think you're right. StarfishSaver Jun 2019 #8
For any new amendment to be added to the Constitution FakeNoose Jun 2019 #9
Yes StarfishSaver Jun 2019 #3
Better yet, a president can't pardon anyone in his administration. shraby Jun 2019 #5
We DO have laws that criminalize self-service pardons. Hortensis Jun 2019 #6
Thanks for that reply Ohioboy Jun 2019 #7
Oh, yes! Karadeniz Jun 2019 #10

Ohioboy

(3,222 posts)
2. Well, the founders allowed for that
Wed Jun 5, 2019, 11:41 AM
Jun 2019

That would be a great legacy for Trump: we had to amend the Constitution because he was so abusive to it.

BannonsLiver

(16,161 posts)
4. Given the requirements involved to do it
Wed Jun 5, 2019, 12:14 PM
Jun 2019

It’s unlikely our constitution will ever be amended again. The bar was high even in times when division was particularly modest in the country. Completely impossible now given the polarized climate. I think it might be more likely at this point we all start shooting at each other than an amendment to the constitution happening.

BTW, your OP makes a lot of sense.

FakeNoose

(32,333 posts)
9. For any new amendment to be added to the Constitution
Wed Jun 5, 2019, 01:47 PM
Jun 2019

... it must be voted on in every state separately. Of the 50 states, 3/4 or 38 states must ratify, or vote yes for the amendment. If only 37 (or fewer) vote yes it doesn't become an amendment. As BannonsLiver says, it would be almost impossible to have any new amendments as long as the divisive partisan climate continues like it is now.

shraby

(21,946 posts)
5. Better yet, a president can't pardon anyone in his administration.
Wed Jun 5, 2019, 01:15 PM
Jun 2019

They could also expand that to include anyone the president personally knows.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
6. We DO have laws that criminalize self-service pardons.
Wed Jun 5, 2019, 01:29 PM
Jun 2019

Violation of any of those would be cause in itself for removal from office.

Unfortunately, of course, the senate's Republican majority is conspiring with the WH and betraying congress's duty as a check on corruption.

Itm, all this is being worked on by house Democrats under the aegis of HR1, The For the People Act, a massive democracy reform package addressing voting rights, money in politics, redistricting, government transparency, and ethics. Senate Democrats, including Elizabeth Warren, have also developed bills, with some very strong provisions in some cases, so they can hit the ground running when we get a majority in 2021.

Plus, much of this has already been passed by Democratic legislatures and governors in a number of states, some things a long time ago. Liberals have a very different idea of how democracies should be run than conservatives. But then this is a liberal democracy, after all. Of course it suits us better and we're better suited to it.





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