Unitary Executive Theory

Unitary executive theory

There are two branches of unitary executive theory, the strong and the weak. Both forms have proponents and detractors.

For example, AG William Barr and SCOTUS Justice Brett Kavanaugh are staunch proponents of the 'strong unitary executive' option.

But Barr (and Trump) take this 'strong' form to the Nth degree which holds that the US president possesses the Constitutional power to totally control the entire executive branch.

Barr further believes that a 'strong unitarian' president is not only above the law, but beyond it entirely and cannot be charged with a crime. In theory, the 'unitary executive' also commands substantial 'emergency powers'.

IMHO, this ideological path leads either to a monarchy, or an authoritarian government very similar to the Putin regime.

Unitary Executive Theory and the Imperial Presidency


Discuss.

For better or worse, the president is chief executive. Congress can place restraints on him or those under him, ie, the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs how agencies must do various things in their quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial capacities. With the DOJ, the others have been more hands-off, at least not interfering to try to help a friend. But that's out of a respect for principles, for propriety. Technically, I do not see why a President could not straight-up order prosecutors to stop pursuing a case in just the same way that the AG or the relevant supervising U.S. Attorney could.

It isn't that what Trump did is illegal or unconstitutional. It's blatantly corrupt, is what it is.

The real threat is a party completely aligned with the president AND in enough power to get their way when they want it. Because while the judge has no duty to do what Trump wants or follow the prosecutors' recommendation, judges can be impeached... and you know that if the GOP held enough seats that is exactly what they would be doing to every single judge that didn't decide cases their way.

And they would insist it's the right thing to do because blah blah activist judges blah blah.

Rogue Valley said:

Unitary executive theory

There are two branches of unitary executive theory, the strong and the weak. Both forms have proponents and detractors.

For example, AG William Barr and SCOTUS Justice Brett Kavanaugh are staunch proponents of the 'strong unitary executive' option.

But Barr (and Trump) take this 'strong' form to the Nth degree which holds that the US president possesses the Constitutional power to totally control the entire executive branch.

Barr further believes that a 'strong unitarian' president is not only above the law, but beyond it entirely and cannot be charged with a crime. In theory, the 'unitary executive' also commands substantial 'emergency powers'.

IMHO, this ideological path leads either to a monarchy, or an authoritarian government very similar to the Putin regime.

Unitary Executive Theory and the Imperial Presidency


Discuss.

Click to expand...

It's cute how nobody opposed the Unitary Executive theory when Obama was president. Heck, they all wanted to give him MORE power and were proud as heck that he had a pen. Now, with Trump in office, the Democrats want a Parliamentary government and don't want the Executive to have any power. That, I'm quite sure, will flip back the other way if we end up with a president Sanders or Buttigieg. The one thing we can ALWAYS count on from the establishment is that they're only happy when they're in charge.

Rogue Valley said:

Unitary executive theory

There are two branches of unitary executive theory, the strong and the weak. Both forms have proponents and detractors.

For example, AG William Barr and SCOTUS Justice Brett Kavanaugh are staunch proponents of the 'strong unitary executive' option.

But Barr (and Trump) take this 'strong' form to the Nth degree which holds that the US president possesses the Constitutional power to totally control the entire executive branch.

Barr further believes that a 'strong unitarian' president is not only above the law, but beyond it entirely and cannot be charged with a crime. In theory, the 'unitary executive' also commands substantial 'emergency powers'.

IMHO, this ideological path leads either to a monarchy, or an authoritarian government very similar to the Putin regime.

Unitary Executive Theory and the Imperial Presidency


Discuss.

Click to expand...

The Constitution says the president is the chief executive, so that pretty much puts him in charge of the Executive Branch.

Lutherf said:

It's cute how nobody opposed the Unitary Executive theory when Obama was president. Heck, they all wanted to give him MORE power and were proud as heck that he had a pen. Now, with Trump in office, the Democrats want a Parliamentary government and don't want the Executive to have any power. That, I'm quite sure, will flip back the other way if we end up with a president Sanders or Buttigieg. The one thing we can ALWAYS count on from the establishment is that they're only happy when they're in charge.

Click to expand...

The Obama cult wanted him to serve unlimited terms.

Rogue Valley said:

Unitary executive theory

There are two branches of unitary executive theory, the strong and the weak. Both forms have proponents and detractors.

For example, AG William Barr and SCOTUS Justice Brett Kavanaugh are staunch proponents of the 'strong unitary executive' option.

But Barr (and Trump) take this 'strong' form to the Nth degree which holds that the US president possesses the Constitutional power to totally control the entire executive branch.

Barr further believes that a 'strong unitarian' president is not only above the law, but beyond it entirely and cannot be charged with a crime. In theory, the 'unitary executive' also commands substantial 'emergency powers'.

IMHO, this ideological path leads either to a monarchy, or an authoritarian government very similar to the Putin regime.

Unitary Executive Theory and the Imperial Presidency


Discuss.

Click to expand...

Per the Constitution, the President doesn't command any emergency powers. Any "emergency powers" the President has were given to him by Congress.

When the President uses those Congress-authorized emergency powers, that does not mean that President is being authoritarian...or "imperial". It means that President is being lawful.

If you find that problematic, I suggest you go talk to Congress.

apdst said:

The Obama cult wanted him to serve unlimited terms.

Click to expand...

After the Republicans took congress in 2010 they started to oppose his policies. NOBODY opposed his authority.

Lutherf said:

After the Republicans took congress in 2010 they started to oppose his policies. NOBODY opposed his authority.

Click to expand...

Because he did not abuse it publicly.

The AntiDonald said:

Because he did not abuse it publicly.

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That's correct. He did it covertly. And when people found out, they were labelled "conspiracy theory nuts".

Well...guess what...the truth is being revealed. And the "conspiracy theory nuts" defense is getting harder and harder to push.

Mycroft said:

That's correct. He did it covertly. And when people found out, they were labelled "conspiracy theory nuts".

Well...guess what...the truth is being revealed. And the "conspiracy theory nuts" defense is getting harder and harder to push.

Click to expand...

He wasn't even all that covert. DACA was pretty doggone public. His "investigation" of the Ferguson, MO police was pretty open. Having some guy with a YouTube video arrested for causing Benghazi was out in the open. The Trump campaign related stuff? Well, we have yet to see for sure how that's going to pan out but if he did half the stuff he's accused of allowing to happen....well, there needs to be a penalty imposed.

Lutherf said:

He wasn't even all that covert. DACA was pretty doggone public. His "investigation" of the Ferguson, MO police was pretty open. Having some guy with a YouTube video arrested for causing Benghazi was out in the open. The Trump campaign related stuff? Well, we have yet to see for sure how that's going to pan out but if he did half the stuff he's accused of allowing to happen....well, there needs to be a penalty imposed.

Click to expand...

all of which were covered up by his AG's