So President Trump has just declared a national emergency to build his border wall after Congress refused to allocate funds for this purpose. In making this end-run around Congress Trump is establishing a dangerous precedence which, if upheld by the courts, brings the United States closer to autocracy. What is truly pathetic, here, however, is that the leadership of the Republican Party essentially provided the president with a carte blanche to go ahead with his foolish plans, abdicating their responsibility of congressional oversight and sabotaging the separation of powers enshrined in the US constitution. In failing to specify what constitutes a "National Emergency" , Congress has more or less given the Executive a "tool for tyranny":
But by failing to define crucial terms, legal standards and accountability rules, Congress has handed presidents an all-too-handy tool of tyranny commonly used by autocrats to amass more power, crush dissent and eviscerate democratic institutions. In Mr. Trump’s case, it has handed an unguided missile to an ignorant, impetuous man-child.
As has been pointed out, the Artikel 48 der Weimarer Verfassung ("Notverordnung" - Emergency Decree) allowed the Reichspräsident to take emergency measures without the prior consent of the Reichstag (parliament). The Nazis used the Reichstag fire (which they likely set themselves) to invoke Article 48 and hasten dictatorship in Germany.
Das politische Gewicht verlagert sich mehr und mehr von den Parteien und dem Parlament auf den Reichspräsidenten und seine rechtskonservativen Berater. Nur mit Hilfe der Notverordnungen können die Minderheitsregierungen Gesetze durchsetzen, die zuvor im Reichstag keine Mehrheit gefunden haben. Die Innenpolitik in der Weimarer Republik ist nunmehr von der Diktaturgewalt des Reichspräsidenten und von Reichstagsauflösungen geprägt. Das Notverordnungsrecht ermöglicht die Bildung von Präsidialregierungen, die ohne Vertrauen des Reichstags regieren und charakteristisch für die Endphase der Weimarer Republik sind. So stehen 1931 den 34 vom Reichstag verabschiedeten Gesetzen 44 Notverordnungen gegenüber.
The problem with both Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution and The National Emergencies Act of 1976 is that the "emergency" is never defined. Basically, the president has discretion to declare anything an "emergency" that he wishes. Even though in this case - the situation on the US southern border - is clearly NOT a national emergency.
§1621. Declaration of national emergency by President; publication in Federal Register; effect on other laws; superseding legislation
(a) With respect to Acts of Congress authorizing the exercise, during the period of a national emergency, of any special or extraordinary power, the President is authorized to declare such national emergency. Such proclamation shall immediately be transmitted to the Congress and published in the Federal Register.
(b) Any provisions of law conferring powers and authorities to be exercised during a national emergency shall be effective and remain in effect (1) only when the President (in accordance with subsection (a) of this section), specifically declares a national emergency, and (2) only in accordance with this chapter. No law enacted after September 14, 1976, shall supersede this subchapter unless it does so in specific terms, referring to this subchapter, and declaring that the new law supersedes the provisions of this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 94–412, title II, §201, Sept. 14, 1976, 90 Stat. 1255.)
Hopefully, the courts will overturn Trump's bogus emergency declaration and put a check on the "ignorant, impetuous man-child."
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