this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2025
54 points (96.6% liked)

US Law (local/state/federal)

58 readers
3 users here now

This is the only decentralized venue for chatter about law in the US. Federal law and law of various states and territories is on topic here.

Loosely related:

founded 6 months ago
MODERATORS
 

The abuse of power, the lack of respect for our institutions, the rule by edict ... can those of us opposed to these create coherent rebuttals in the form of constitutional amendments that will address our time of crisis? What will these amendments say?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I read something once that said the worst export American ever had was a strong presidential system. Not sure where I read that or who said it, but it seems apt.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I'm way out of my depth here, but the strong presidential system is a trade-off no? It makes sure rhe country can run even when the legislature is divided and unable/unwilling to make a governing coalition. I mean imagine today's House of Representatives in a country with a real parliamentary system.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I don't think you could skip to the end like that. I mean you can't sit here and take the current House of Representatives and remove it from the United States presidency. It's way too ingrained and affected to make a good judgment about its abilities independently. I mean honestly how much of the House Representatives right now do you think could be called direct vassals of Donald Trump? How much has the house representative been completely tarnished by how US presidents have behaved in the last century? How much of their power have they surrendered willingly and for political reasons to the presidency? In ways in which the founding fathers never envisioned?

As for presidencies being a trade-off, well the most recent government refusing to form a coalition was caused by a President in France. So clearly that doesn't help. Legislators refusing to form a government just means they should be replaced. Which is how it's supposed to work, which is much more responsive to the will of the people really. But it's not like those governments shut down entirely in the meantime. There's still an apparatus.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

So clearly that doesn't help. Legislators refusing to form a government just means they should be replaced.

Replaced how? I mean they're the ones who decide whether they get replaced or not right?

I mean honestly how much of the House Representatives right now do you think could be called direct vassals of Donald Trump? How much has the house representative been completely tarnished by how US presidents have behaved in the last century? How much of their power have they surrendered willingly and for political reasons to the presidency? In ways in which the founding fathers never envisioned?

Fair enough.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

Replaced by a new election. If you can't form a new government new elections are forced. It rarely gets that far, but it's happened.