Trump threatens to adjourn both chambers of Congress
Source: the hill.
By Brett Samuels - 04/15/20 06:30 PM EDT
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"The Senate should either fulfill its duty and vote on my nominees or it should formally adjourn so I can make recess appointments," Trump said. "We have a tremendous number of people that have to come into government. And now more so than ever before because of the virus and the problem."
The president threatened to use his "constitutional authority" to adjourn both chambers of Congress, which would allow him to make recess appointments to vacant positions.
"The current practice of leaving town while conducting phony pro forma sessions is a dereliction of duty that the American people can not afford during this crisis," he said. "It is a scam, what they do. Its a scam. And everybody knows it and its ben that way for a long time."
Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution grants Trump with the power to "on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper."
As a result, the GOP-controlled Senate which have to adjourn while the Democrat-held House objects to adjourning in order for the president to step in and dismiss both.
"Perhaps its never been done before, nobodys even sure if it has," Trump said. "But were going to do it. We need these people here. We need people for this crisis, and we dont want to play any more political games."
The Trump administration has long been plagued by vacancies across the government. Trump has declined to nominate full-time appointees to key positions, instead relying on acting officials............................................
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493044-trump-threatens-to-adjourn-both-chambers-of-congress
I tuned in about 15 minutes ago. Trump looks and sounds like he is on uppers. hands flapping, mouth flapping.
Link to tweet
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Link to tweet
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keithbvadu2
(36,778 posts)He's really getting into this 'Total Authority' thing now.
FarPoint
(12,350 posts)He is just fighting to hold on to the presidency and is projecting to his base what he believes is in his power as a pResident...... This is a sales pitch to his base that really is clueless about Democracy. I believe the media/ journalist will help minimize the impact of his lies...
Initech
(100,065 posts)DENVERPOPS
(8,812 posts)Power Corrupts, and ABSOLUTE power corrupts ABSOLUTELY.......
This is the closest the Republicons have come to declaring a Corporate Fascist Tyrannical Dictator.......
After yesterday and today's rants by Trump, I'm beginning to think we won't even make it til the election.
Holy Shit
dchill
(38,474 posts)flor-de-jasmim
(2,125 posts)Long before they should consider judges, there is a backlog of great bills that should take preference.
nature-lover
(1,469 posts)bluestarone
(16,914 posts)pUTIN and tRUMP talk about on the phone??? Conniving BASTARDS!!
keithbvadu2
(36,778 posts)elleng
(130,865 posts)if the House and Senate cannot agree on the time of adjournment; no president has ever had to exercise this administrative power.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution
Fiendish Thingy
(15,587 posts)And Trumps Article II powers cannot be Constitutionally exercised.
TomSlick
(11,097 posts)If Trump tried to adjourn the Congress, I would expect even Moscow Mitch to ignore him. Any "recess" appointments would be challenged in the Courts. I don't think even the Roberts' Court would side with Trump on this one.
I'm wondering where Trump is finding his legal advice.
BadgerMom
(2,771 posts)TomSlick
(11,097 posts)Better yet, a lawyer with two functioning brain cells to rub together.
no_hypocrisy
(46,083 posts)left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)... he can shut them 'down'.
oldsoftie
(12,533 posts)EarthFirst
(2,900 posts)MissMillie
(38,553 posts).
sfstaxprep
(9,998 posts)Merrick Who?
That has as much precedent as the 2000 Installation Of Shrub by the Supremes.
Joinfortmill
(14,417 posts)ashredux
(2,605 posts)turbinetree
(24,695 posts)history repeats itself yet again..................
https://undark.org/2018/03/16/book-review-harper-fate-of-rome/
Girard442
(6,070 posts)Uhhhh...... What if "proper' is never?
SomewhereInTheMiddle
(285 posts)If the president chooses to not reconvene Congress then the executive branch runs out of money and there is no new funding. Only Congress can make a budget and allocate moneys. Also the House has to ratify the presidential election results so there would be no president come January.
These are medium term difficulties, but I don't see a constitutional way around them. Not that the current president could not do a lot of damage before these things happened.
MySideOfTown
(225 posts)n/t
RGinNJ
(1,020 posts)dweller
(23,628 posts)playing golf?
🤔
✌🏼
Johnyawl
(3,205 posts)This is just more posturing and deflection. He can't get anything done and the governors are showing him up, and now the business leaders on his opening the economy team have told him they can't open the economy until we have widespread testing, which we are not set up for, thanks to him.
He can't solve the virus problem
He can't restart the economy
he can't boost the stock market
He can't take responsibility for any of this.
He's been pointing the finger and blaming everybody looking for a scapegoat so he can wiggle off the hook, so I'm not at all surprised that he's throwing McConnell under the bus. As a matter of fact I think Nancy and MoscowMitch should call his bluff and recess the congress. Go ahead ya big orange buffon, make all the recess appointments you want, it's not going to solve any of your problems.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,999 posts)mtngirl47
(988 posts)WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)it doesn't mean what he thinks it does...
"on extraordinary occasions, convene both Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper."
I don't think this means that a president can pitch a hissy fit and send them all home just to get his way because they're supposedly not pushing through the craptastic people he has nominated fast enough for him. If a president could do this any time s/he wants to it that would give the president a lot more power then I'm pretty sure framers of the constitution intended.
Bayard
(22,062 posts)Its when the two houses of Congress disagree on when to adjourn. Why would they be adjourning now?
I'd like to hear a Constitutional scholar weigh in on this.
ProfessorGAC
(65,001 posts)...his privilege to assign adjournment is contingent upon him convening Congress for a special session.
It doesn't use the word "or" with regard to adjournment. It uses the word "and".
This suggests that this constitutional power applies to a convening at the President's request.
This Congress was already convened.
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)certainly one that could make a difference in how it might be interpreted.
Either way it's certainly not something Trump can pull in this particular case and I'm sure Madam Speaker won't tolerate that nonsense even if McConnell might.
Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)all across government agencies, leading to the chaos and malfunction of our lives.
Mr. "Acting" . . . . GO FUCK YOURSELF, with a fire hydrant, sideways, ungreased.
Bernardo de La Paz
(48,999 posts)It's a bad clause in the Constitution that should be fixed. It is ridiculous that if he can adjourn them he can keep them adjourned until he chooses. Very bad clause not to have limits.
bucolic_frolic
(43,137 posts)Donnie's playing dictator .... what's anybody gonna do about it?
Evolve Dammit
(16,725 posts)Sloumeau
(2,657 posts)Please, proceed, you worthless idiot.
moonseller66
(430 posts)After ignoring it for 3 plus years, now he thinks he can use it?
Maybe it's time for the military to step in.
Can't be much worse.
Chicago1980
(1,968 posts)I've never hated anyone so much and I don't like the feeling.
paleotn
(17,911 posts)I hate to say it....but someone needs to take one for the country. Go where you will with that.
Lulu KC
(2,565 posts)Jaw dropped.
Marthe48
(16,941 posts)taking advantage of a country staggering from the disease he unleashed on it?
degage
(103 posts)His staff finally convinced him he can't order the governors of the states to do anything because his powers are not "absolute." Instead, they found him some authority, any authority, to exercise to make him not feel like the weak, toadstool-penis, diaper-wearing, incompetent he is and to allow him to save face among his cult worshipers.
Yep, that's about it. "WHAAAAA! I can't make those mean governors do what I want, so I'll use what little power I have to look like I'm a man and in charge."
turbinetree
(24,695 posts)question is.................
he saw what #Moscow Mitch did with Garland, basically through out the Constitution, then he saw what happened in Wisconsin and the 2018 election, and if there is no Congress in session, then how can there a seating of the electoral college............if #Moscow Mitch can't agree with Pelosi.................maybe I am just paranoid, but I will put nothing past this traitor..............nothing, he knows he is going to lose the election and Wisconsin was just a harbinger of what is coming next...........is ass is going to jail along with some others..............
Kaleva
(36,294 posts)Initech
(100,065 posts)Politicub
(12,165 posts)We can't have a single day without Trump creating stress. As a narcissist he gets off on it.
thenelm1
(852 posts)Gotta wonder what numbnuts thought to suggest this to him? Some fool from his crack legal team?
I'm sure his idjit brigade would think this was just hunky-dory, but does this fool really think this is going to get him the election?
I've seen it suggested that he might try to cancel the election, but I don't think that is something he really has any control over. Elections are controlled by each of the individual states and the dates for the election of his office are Constitutionally mandated. The pubbie states might do what he says, but nothing he says can compel Dem controlled states to play along - I hope. Would the Supreme Court really cede their authority to his whims? One would hope that even Roberts would see the folly in participating in that game.
The pubbies have been cheating to keep their hold on power for years, but in the end, they are still the minority party. If they really tried a stunt like this? The French had a solution to this in the early 19th century. What's the old adage, those who refuse to learn from history are bound to repeat it? Their BS is wearing thin. The lies, games and ratfuckery only work for so long, and our current situation is bringing it all to the forefront for all to see. I'd like to think they've way overplayed their hand and are ready for a big fall.
aeromanKC
(3,322 posts)constitutional scholar seems to disagree with Trump on this
"Under the Constitution, the president has the power to adjourn Congress to such time as he shall think proper when there is a disagreement between the House and Senate on when to adjourn.
But University of Texas constitutional law professor Stephen Vladeck said in an email, He has the power to do it if and only if the chambers disagree as to the date of adjournment. As of now, they dont its January 3, 2021. Recesses during a session -- such as Congresss August break -- dont count as an adjournment, he said."
Tiger8
(432 posts)...from the Oval Office, WH, DC, NYC and you are placed into government housing more suitable....a nice SuperMAX Facility.
We will even allow you conjugal visits. Not sure if Malaria will show up, but Im sure youd prefer Ivanka anyway.
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)Orrex
(63,203 posts)Now what?
Tweedy
(628 posts)because our "very stable genius" president wants to fill our judicial branch with more unqualified judges.
Does this man think no-one remembers yesterday? We all know he likes "acting" better, because he is the expert on all things.
By the way, some of them may actually be legally dumber than this president; there is even a judge who wrote a concurring opinion to the majority opinion when he authored the majority opinion.
LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,582 posts)As long as he can make recess appointments while Congress is adjourned -- he determines when to call Congress back -- Fat Donnie will consider the "proper time" to be when he is forced out of office.
TryLogic
(1,722 posts)He always finds a way to function as a fool.
OneCrazyDiamond
(2,031 posts)Can't be doing that in election years with Republican majority Senate. We all know the rules. It's better they get less time appointing anyway.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,413 posts)"The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I have just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away."
Link to tweet
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,338 posts)Poor Charlie wound up being executed for treason. Not advocating for any particular outcome, just saying.