Fault Lines in the Constitution deals with two possible national emergencies—a foreign war and a pandemic. The situations can become even worse because of problems in our Constitution.
Category: Presidential Powers
What’s This 25th Amendment I Keep Hearing About?
We’d like to recap the 25th Amendment here to explain how it works—and why it very likely doesn’t.
Guest Post: On Pardons
The final Blog-a-Fault-Line contest winner! High Schooler Gabriel Quiroga discusses presidential pardons.
The President Can Just Say, “No!”
Because of the president’s ability to veto legislation, some people argue that we actually have a tricameral system—two houses to pass bills and one person to keep them from becoming law.
“You’re Fired!” “Oh, No, I’m Not.”
As the boss of the White House, the president can also choose and replace the people who work there, from the travel agents to the press secretary.
Pardon Me?
The president’s power to grant pardons is very broad. With the exception of impeachment, the chief can erase a criminal conviction as if it had never happened. So how far do you think the president’s ability to grant pardons should go?
