Trump threatens to adjourn both chambers of Congress

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
64,137
12,456
136
If he does this...no one can say we don't have a dictator-wanna be in the office



President Trump on Wednesday threatened to use his executive power to force both chambers of Congress to adjourn if the Senate did not confirm his nominees for vacancies across the administration.
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The president, during a coronavirus briefing in the Rose Garden, offered a lengthy diatribe against what he described as congressional obstruction and argued confirming his nominees was more urgent than ever amid the pandemic.

"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."


Lawmakers in both chambers are not expected to return to the Capitol until May 4 but both the House and Senate have been conducting pro forma sessions in the meantime. Those sessions prevent Trump from making recess appointments.

"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. It’s a scam. And everybody knows it and it’s been that way for a long time."

Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution grants Trump 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."

That means that in order for the president to step in and dismiss both, the GOP-controlled Senate would have to adjourn while the Democrat-held House objected. Senate Democrats also have procedural tools to prevent the Senate from adjourning.

The National Constitution Center noted that "no President has ever exercised" the authority.

"Perhaps it’s never been done before, nobody’s even sure if it has," Trump said. "But we’re going to do it. We need these people here. We need people for this crisis, and we don’t want to play any more political games."

Jonathan Turley, a constitutional law professor who appeared as a GOP witness during the House impeachment hearings, warned Trump against taking the step.
"The President just said that he may unilaterally adjourn Congress. ... This power has never been used and should not be used now," he tweeted."

(edit...added source link)
 
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feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,606
4,699
136
Daughter don't you dare. Oh, mama, who cares? It's the Blimpf!

gettyimages-997730962.jpg
 
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balloonshark

Diamond Member
Jun 5, 2008
6,562
3,031
136
It's amazing the amount of power grab attempts the repub voters completely brush off yet "da demoncratz r comin' fer r gunz 'n unborn" are their only concerns.

It's funny now how all the sudden now they are concerned about key positions being vacant. Perhaps you shouldn't wait until an emergency to fill key positions. I mean that's the whole point of them being key positions.

The hypocrisy and irony of these people.
 

MtnMan

Diamond Member
Jul 27, 2004
8,943
8,153
136
Don't you know that Putin, Kim Jung Un, Xi Jinping, and the other 48 dictators current in power are chuckling knowing that their numbers are about to increase by an orange shit stain.
 

JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,320
126
Those of you who say he cannot are correct!
But if you read the amendment there is an instance in which he can....but he is reaching beyond that instance!@
The only time he can adjourne both Houses if if they cannot agree when to adjourne themselves!!
This cannot be used just because the House of Representatives is making him to be a lame duck President....well he is lame anyways!!
 

ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,446
126
Doesn't surprise me... it seems like everyone in the Executive branch at both the state and federal level is trying to use COVID-19 as an excuse to act like a dictator.

I'm amazed that there aren't more court cases being filed against these oversteps of constitutional authority.
 

HomerJS

Lifer
Feb 6, 2002
36,671
28,824
136
Doesn't surprise me... it seems like everyone in the Executive branch at both the state and federal level is trying to use COVID-19 as an excuse to act like a dictator.

I'm amazed that there aren't more court cases being filed against these oversteps of constitutional authority.
So you are against states issuing stay at home orders in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus?
 

NWRMidnight

Diamond Member
Jun 18, 2001
3,038
2,652
136
Don't you know that Putin, Kim Jung Un, Xi Jinping, and the other 48 dictators current in power are chuckling knowing that their numbers are about to increase by an orange shit stain.
Yes he does, it is in the Constitution. He also can appoint people to those positions while congress is not in session, bit that appointment only lasts until congress is back in session.

But there are different legal opinions on that as well. The problem is Trump is known to test the limits and get away with it because the GOP has no back bone to stand up to him.. they all yellow and corrupt!
 
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JEDIYoda

Lifer
Jul 13, 2005
33,986
3,320
126
Yes he does, it is in the Constitution. He also can appoint people to those positions while congress is not in session, bit that appointment only lasts until congress is back in session. - No it is NOT in the Constitution! Here is what the Constitution says and it is very plain that it is to be used ONLY if both Hopuses cannot agree to adjourn! It says nothing about adjourning Both Houses because they cannot agree on bills or amendments! That is Trumps interpretation because he is being seen as a lame duck shit stain!!

But there are different legal opinions on that as well. The problem is Trump is known to test the limits and get away with it because the GOP has no back bone to stand up to him.. they all yellow and corrupt!
Here is what the Constution says -- Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution does give the president some power to adjourn Congress, but under specific circumstances: "he may, 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."