Communist USA
- Thread starter Pendekar
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Thread locked. While the Off Topic thread is intended to encompass things outside of the primary focus of DefenceTalk, topics like religion and politics are still not areas which be primary points for discussion.
Further, regardless of the political party affiliation of the President of the United States (POTUS), the President cannot legally change the Constitution of the United States. In basic terms, the United States has adopted a system of government with three branches, in order to counterbalance each other. These are the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches respectively. The POTUS is the Head of State, and the Head of Government, and head of the Executive branch of government, which is responsible for enforcement of Federal laws, foreign policy, defence, etc. The Legislative branch is the one which can write, modify or repeal laws. The Judicial branch is the one which examines the law, and judges whether laws are "Constitutional" or contradict existing law, a process known as judicial review.
In order for something to become Federal law in the US, both Houses of Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate) need to pass by majority vote, an agreed upon House or Senate Bill, which is the sent to the POTUS to be signed into law. If the POTUS chooses to, the POTUS can veto a Bill, refusing to sign the bill into law. If the bill is not signed by the POTUS, it must be sent back to Congress within 10 days, otherwise it automatically becomes law. A bill which has been vetoed by the POTUS can still become law, if Congress overrides the Presidential veto by having both Houses of Congress vote with a two-thirds majority (or better) in favor of the bill.
Changing (amending) the Constitution is more complicated. In order for an Amendment to occur, both Houses of Congress need to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority, which then needs to be ratified by a three-quarters majority of the States.
It is perhaps worth noting that in the 223 years since the Constitution of the United States has been in effect, there have only been 27 Amendments enacted, the first ten of which being known as the Bill of Rights, which took effect two years after the Constitution became the supreme law of the land.
So in short, the POTUS cannot legally make any changes to US law, though the POTUS could provide political aid/support to those in the Legislature who are trying to pass a bill which would do so.
-Preceptor
Further, regardless of the political party affiliation of the President of the United States (POTUS), the President cannot legally change the Constitution of the United States. In basic terms, the United States has adopted a system of government with three branches, in order to counterbalance each other. These are the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches respectively. The POTUS is the Head of State, and the Head of Government, and head of the Executive branch of government, which is responsible for enforcement of Federal laws, foreign policy, defence, etc. The Legislative branch is the one which can write, modify or repeal laws. The Judicial branch is the one which examines the law, and judges whether laws are "Constitutional" or contradict existing law, a process known as judicial review.
In order for something to become Federal law in the US, both Houses of Congress (House of Representatives and the Senate) need to pass by majority vote, an agreed upon House or Senate Bill, which is the sent to the POTUS to be signed into law. If the POTUS chooses to, the POTUS can veto a Bill, refusing to sign the bill into law. If the bill is not signed by the POTUS, it must be sent back to Congress within 10 days, otherwise it automatically becomes law. A bill which has been vetoed by the POTUS can still become law, if Congress overrides the Presidential veto by having both Houses of Congress vote with a two-thirds majority (or better) in favor of the bill.
Changing (amending) the Constitution is more complicated. In order for an Amendment to occur, both Houses of Congress need to propose an amendment with a two-thirds majority, which then needs to be ratified by a three-quarters majority of the States.
It is perhaps worth noting that in the 223 years since the Constitution of the United States has been in effect, there have only been 27 Amendments enacted, the first ten of which being known as the Bill of Rights, which took effect two years after the Constitution became the supreme law of the land.
So in short, the POTUS cannot legally make any changes to US law, though the POTUS could provide political aid/support to those in the Legislature who are trying to pass a bill which would do so.
-Preceptor
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