Bush Makes Power Grab

[Goofball]

Whats the use of being in power if you cant act on it? This is one of the powers the constitution reserves for the president. He wont be in office forever.

But hypothetically, could a president not invoke this power then use it to postpone the next presidential election? Not at all implying that Bush would do this (quite frankly, I think he's sick of being president and will be out of the White House like through a goose as soon as his term is up), but isn't it possible?

[BigTex]

But hypothetically, could a president not invoke this power then use it to postpone the next presidential election? Not at all implying that Bush would do this (quite frankly, I think he's sick of being president and will be out of the White House like through a goose as soon as his term is up), but isn't it possible?

No, read odin's wonderful links to article 2 of the constitution. Elections are an act of congress, and take place on the date specified by congress. The executive has no control over these. Not to mention a state of emergency is called by congress and can be stopped by congress.

Anyways, the president can't grant himself powers, not even congress can grant powers, though they've tryed. This is the president defining the current meaning of martial law if envoked.

[Goofball]

No, read odin's wonderful links to article 2 of the constitution. Elections are an act of congress, and take place on the date specified by congress. The executive has no control over these. Not to mention a state of emergency is called by congress and can be stopped by congress.

Anyways, the president can't grant himself powers, not even congress can grant powers, though they've tryed. This is the president defining the current meaning of martial law if envoked.

But from what I am able to piece together from the original post, the president can now basically override all other branches of government in case of a national emergency. Since, as you say, elections are an act of congress, and the president would have the power to override congress, what would stop him (or her, I'm thinking HRC here) from postponing an election?

[AntiochusIII]

But from what I am able to piece together from the original post, the president can now basically override all other branches of government in case of a national emergency. Since, as you say, elections are an act of congress, and the president would have the power to override congress, what would stop him (or her, I'm thinking HRC here) from postponing an election?

Well, from what I've pierced together from the same source (OP), it seems to say that the law makes absolutely no mention of Congress whatsoever.

If such a constitutional crisis comes to a head I suspect Congress will assert its veto power, or some other obscure power they might have up their sleeves, with support from the US Supreme Court, the "interpreters" of the Constitution, whose self-asserted power of Judicial Review can essentially strike down any law they don't like.

The Bush Administration's vehement partisanship has done disasters for civil rights, but I doubt this is one of those cases.

[Zaknafien]

hm, what if such a catastrophe destroyed the congress? say some terrorists targeted the capitol while in session?

[Redleg]

hm, what if such a catastrophe destroyed the congress? say some terrorists targeted the capitol while in session?

There are procedures established for the replacement of Senators and Representives in case of their death while in office. So to destroy the current crop of politicans while could be unsettling its not a major catastrophe

[Gawain of Orkeny]

So to destroy the current crop of politicans while could be unsettling its not a major catastrophe

I say go for it

[Gawain of Orkeny]

Remember Linclon tried to suspend Habeus Corpus and SCOTUS shot him down. The president is not all powerful. There are always checks and balances.