• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Is it legit for the feds to request that states and cities break their own laws?

Is it legit for the feds to request that states and cities break their own laws?

  • Yes, it's legit. The end justifies the means.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, sometimes, depending on the issue.

    Votes: 6 40.0%

  • Yes, I'm a partisan hack, so only when my person is doing it.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Almost never, but I could see some limited national security interest scenarios.

    Votes: 4 26.7%

  • No, never.

    Votes: 4 26.7%

  • I don't know.

    Votes: 1 6.7%
  • Total voters
    15
radcen

radcen

Phonetic Mnemonic ©
DP Veteran
Joined
Sep 3, 2011
Messages
34,817
Reaction score
18,576
Location
Look to your right... I'm that guy.
Gender
Undisclosed
Political Leaning
Centrist
Is it appropriate for the federal government to ask states (or cities)to violate their own laws?

In a nutshell: The federal government and/or justice system wants to conduct an investigation. They send out requests for information to various state and/or localities. Revealing said information is against said state/local law... but the federal authorities want it anyway.

Is that legit?

Of course this question is prompted by Trump's voter fraud investigation, and many states refusing to comply completely, but really the question is wholly generic. If you have even an ounce of integrity your answer should be the same regardless who is making the request and regardless what the issue is. Is it legit for the feds to request that states and cities break their own laws?

1) Yes, it's legit. The end justifies the means.

2) Yes, sometimes, depending on the issue.

3) Yes, I'm a partisan hack, so only when my person is doing it.

4) Almost never, but I could see some limited national security interest scenarios.

5) No, never.

6) I don't know.
 
radcen said:
Is it appropriate for the federal government to ask states (or cities)to violate their own laws?

In a nutshell: The federal government and/or justice system wants to conduct an investigation. They send out requests for information to various state and/or localities. Revealing said information is against said state/local law... but the federal authorities want it anyway.

Is that legit?

Of course this question is prompted by Trump's voter fraud investigation, and many states refusing to comply completely, but really the question is wholly generic. If you have even an ounce of integrity your answer should be the same regardless who is making the request and regardless what the issue is. Is it legit for the feds to request that states and cities break their own laws?

1) Yes, it's legit. The end justifies the means.

2) Yes, sometimes, depending on the issue.

3) Yes, I'm a partisan hack, so only when my person is doing it.

4) Almost never, but I could see some limited national security interest scenarios.

5) No, never.

6) I don't know.
Click to expand...

It depends on the matter and the Constitution, I would think.
 
Whenever the federal law and city law intercept, then Federal law Trumps local laws.

Regarding the requests for the voting commission etc...it sounds like the federal commission is looking reveal private information to the public and that's kinda ridiculous. There is also no federal law mandating private information be revealed.
 
I chose no, never. If the Feds feel they have a case to compel then they can take it to court.
 
I thought this was about sanctuary cities but, it applies to both. The Feds are constitutionally bound to protect the public and it's rights.
 
If fed and local law conflicts, fed law prevails (barring unconstitutionality).

In the two most notorious cases, sanctuary cities and White House voting records, I believe the cities have the legal prerogative here and would prevail in a court of law. That's why the government is trying to extort via withholding funds, otherwise if the they believed they were on firm legal ground the would execute or legislate.

I'm dead against sanctuary cities, but the law is the law, and the feds got no business mucking around in local jurisdictions contrary to local law.
 
WCH said:
I thought this was about sanctuary cities but, it applies to both. The Feds are constitutionally bound to protect the public and it's rights.
Click to expand...
Within their Constitutional authority, yes.
 
States a sovereign in their own right. The Federal government has no right demanding that states violate their own laws.
 
reinoe said:
Whenever the federal law and city law intercept, then Federal law Trumps local laws.

Regarding the requests for the voting commission etc...it sounds like the federal commission is looking reveal private information to the public and that's kinda ridiculous. There is also no federal law mandating private information be revealed.
Click to expand...

There is no conflict between state and federal law because there are no Federal laws in play here. This is simply a DoJ request for information. It isn't even a subpoena.
 
Gaius46 said:
reinoe said:
Whenever the federal law and city law intercept, then Federal law Trumps local laws.

Regarding the requests for the voting commission etc...it sounds like the federal commission is looking reveal private information to the public and that's kinda ridiculous. There is also no federal law mandating private information be revealed.
Click to expand...
There is no conflict between state and federal law because there are no Federal laws in play here. This is simply a DoJ request for information. It isn't even a subpoena.
Click to expand...
Out of curiosity, do you actually read the posts you respond to or are you just habitually being a contrarian? Asking for a friend.
 
Sorry. Missed the bolded.

But yes I am habitually contrarian. Just ask my wife. :)
 
radcen said:
Is it appropriate for the federal government to ask states (or cities)to violate their own laws?

In a nutshell: The federal government and/or justice system wants to conduct an investigation. They send out requests for information to various state and/or localities. Revealing said information is against said state/local law... but the federal authorities want it anyway.

Is that legit?

Of course this question is prompted by Trump's voter fraud investigation, and many states refusing to comply completely, but really the question is wholly generic. If you have even an ounce of integrity your answer should be the same regardless who is making the request and regardless what the issue is. Is it legit for the feds to request that states and cities break their own laws?

1) Yes, it's legit. The end justifies the means.

2) Yes, sometimes, depending on the issue.

3) Yes, I'm a partisan hack, so only when my person is doing it.

4) Almost never, but I could see some limited national security interest scenarios.

5) No, never.

6) I don't know.
Click to expand...

Federal law trumps local law.
 
apdst said:
Federal law trumps local law.
Click to expand...

Ahh...I get to use my response to reinoe here.

There is no Federal law in play here. It's simply a DoJ request for information.
 
radcen said:
Is it appropriate for the federal government to ask states (or cities)to violate their own laws?

In a nutshell: The federal government and/or justice system wants to conduct an investigation. They send out requests for information to various state and/or localities. Revealing said information is against said state/local law... but the federal authorities want it anyway.

Is that legit?

Of course this question is prompted by Trump's voter fraud investigation, and many states refusing to comply completely, but really the question is wholly generic. If you have even an ounce of integrity your answer should be the same regardless who is making the request and regardless what the issue is. Is it legit for the feds to request that states and cities break their own laws?

1) Yes, it's legit. The end justifies the means.

2) Yes, sometimes, depending on the issue.

3) Yes, I'm a partisan hack, so only when my person is doing it.

4) Almost never, but I could see some limited national security interest scenarios.

5) No, never.

6) I don't know.
Click to expand...

Federal law supersedes state and local law.
 
If it's a situation where federal law constitutionally trumps state law, yes.

If it's a situation where state law constitutionally trumps federal law, no.

Typically, I feel like it should be state law that trumps federal law, as the federal scope is one I feel should be limited. That said, the reality of our system is that even when state laws trump federal laws, there are enough various "give aways" to states from the Federal Level that sufficient influence can be wielded even in those cases by threats of withholding other funding. This has happened routinely in our history with both education and infrastructure dollars.
 
radcen said:
Is it appropriate for the federal government to ask states (or cities)to violate their own laws?

In a nutshell: The federal government and/or justice system wants to conduct an investigation. They send out requests for information to various state and/or localities. Revealing said information is against said state/local law... but the federal authorities want it anyway.

Is that legit?

Of course this question is prompted by Trump's voter fraud investigation, and many states refusing to comply completely, but really the question is wholly generic. If you have even an ounce of integrity your answer should be the same regardless who is making the request and regardless what the issue is. Is it legit for the feds to request that states and cities break their own laws?

1) Yes, it's legit. The end justifies the means.

2) Yes, sometimes, depending on the issue.

3) Yes, I'm a partisan hack, so only when my person is doing it.

4) Almost never, but I could see some limited national security interest scenarios.

5) No, never.

6) I don't know.
Click to expand...

The answer is "Yes, sometimes, depending on the issue."For examples:

Fed asks the state to do "X", X violates states laws but X has no other legality or connections to rights or the constitution. Not OK
Fed asks the state to do "X", X violates states laws and X also has other legality or connections to rights or the constitution in which the state law is violating. Completely OK and the FED not only should ask it's their job to
stop the state law.
 
Only for legitimate national security issues or clear violation of people's rights per the Fourteenth Amendment.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom