Should Congress pass a law that requires all candidates for President to make public....?

[kentuck]

their income tax returns?

After Donald Trump and this election, I think they should.

It is simply not acceptable for someone running for the highest office in this land to be doing business with enemies or potential enemies of this country.

They would be susceptible to bribes, blackmail, extortion, etc.

Congress should pass a law requiring openness in financial information for anyone running for President.

[Buns_of_Fire]

1. I don't think they can add requirements outside of what

the Constitution specifies.

[kentuck]

3. Of course they can.

They passed the War Powers Act.

[Buns_of_Fire]

4. True, but that's a restriction against an already-sitting President. nt

[kentuck]

6. And against all future presidents also.

Congress did not want the responsibility of declaring war on their re-election campaigns.

[Buns_of_Fire]

8. Yes, but again, those are restrictions on sitting Presidents.

Consider a veto-proof majority in both houses who decide that, from now on, no one can be elected President unless they are a white male. Or, for that matter, that the same conditions would apply for the House and the Senate.

While I think it would be great to have the financial transparency, I believe it would take a Constitutional Amendment to make it so. Remember, it took an Amendment to limit the President to two terms.

[Auntie Bush]

2. Yes, congress should pass a law requiring ALL presidential candidates to show us their tax returns

Even if they are under audit. If fact they should show many years of returns long before they contemplated running.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

5. Most likely unconstitutional n/t

[kentuck]

7. Why?

For national security reasons, they could make an exception for the office of the President.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

11. No, they can't

"make exceptions" when it comes to setting the legal qualification for the office of the President.

There are ways to amend the Constitution, and if this is a change that needs to be me made, that's how it should be done.

[kentuck]

13. What amendment are you referencing?

And if it is not in the Constitution specifically, why can't the Congress change it?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

17. I'm not referencing any amendment

Qualifications for the Presidency are in the Constitution specifically, which is why Congress can't just make new requirements by passing a law.

[Mr. A]

9. Kentuck

Yes, especially since Trump might have Russian loans!

[niyad]

10. welcome to du

[tritsofme]

12. No, such a law would be unconstitutional. Just as states cannot impose term limits

on federal officeholders, Congress cannot set extra-constitutional eligibility requirements for the office of president without a constitutional amendment.

The Constitution says if you are natural born, 35, and a resident for 14 years, you are eligible.

[kentuck]

15. But, where does it say anything about finances or income taxes in the Constitution?

Is it assumed?

[tritsofme]

18. That's exactly the point. Since it is not mentioned as a requirement for eligibility

Adding it would require a constitutional amendment. This is why the 22nd amendment to limit a president to two terms was passed as an amendment as opposed to an act of Congress, and as I mentioned, why state imposed term limits have been ruled unconstitutional. A federal law imposing this standard on Senate or House candidates would be similarly unconstitutional.

[davidn3600]

16. Why not all politicians?

Let's see where all these people get their money from....