deanrd
Gold Member
- May 8, 2017
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https://www.motherjones.com/files/9...ssional_oversight_of_the_executive_branch.pdf
A Constitutional Obligation: Congressional Oversight of the Executive Branch Hand-in-hand with the powers expressly granted to Congress by the Constitution – among others, to legislate, to appropriate funds, to declare war, to raise armies, and to impeach – is the implicit responsibility to perform rigorous oversight of the Executive Branch.1 As one historian noted, “it was not considered necessary to make an explicit grant of such authority. The power to make laws implied the power to see whether they were faithfully executed.”2
Moreover, the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized this Congressional power on numerous occasions. For example, the Court held that “the power of inquiry – with process to enforce it – is an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function .… A legislative body cannot legislate wisely or effectively in the absence of information respecting the conditions which the legislation is intended to affect or change, and where the legislative body does not itself possess the requisite information -- which not infrequently is true -- recourse must be had to others who do possess it.”4 Further, in Watkins v. United States, Chief Justice Warren wrote for the majority:
We start with several basic premises on which there is general agreement. The power of Congress to conduct investigations is inherent in the legislative process. That power is broad. It encompasses inquiries concerning the administration of existing laws as well as proposed or possibly needed statutes. It includes surveys of defects in the social, economic, or political system for the purpose of enabling Congress to remedy them. It comprehends probes into departments of the federal government to expose corruption, inefficiency, or waste.5
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Look at that. Constitutional Obligation. He should have said, "Constitutional Obligation unless a Republican is in office".
Republicans endlessly investigated the Obama administration. Just Benghazi alone had 17 separate investigations.
We know Trump is guilty of at least a dozen felonies. And yet the GOP endlessly protect Trump.
Is this evidence of Party before Country?
A Constitutional Obligation: Congressional Oversight of the Executive Branch Hand-in-hand with the powers expressly granted to Congress by the Constitution – among others, to legislate, to appropriate funds, to declare war, to raise armies, and to impeach – is the implicit responsibility to perform rigorous oversight of the Executive Branch.1 As one historian noted, “it was not considered necessary to make an explicit grant of such authority. The power to make laws implied the power to see whether they were faithfully executed.”2
Moreover, the U.S. Supreme Court has recognized this Congressional power on numerous occasions. For example, the Court held that “the power of inquiry – with process to enforce it – is an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function .… A legislative body cannot legislate wisely or effectively in the absence of information respecting the conditions which the legislation is intended to affect or change, and where the legislative body does not itself possess the requisite information -- which not infrequently is true -- recourse must be had to others who do possess it.”4 Further, in Watkins v. United States, Chief Justice Warren wrote for the majority:
We start with several basic premises on which there is general agreement. The power of Congress to conduct investigations is inherent in the legislative process. That power is broad. It encompasses inquiries concerning the administration of existing laws as well as proposed or possibly needed statutes. It includes surveys of defects in the social, economic, or political system for the purpose of enabling Congress to remedy them. It comprehends probes into departments of the federal government to expose corruption, inefficiency, or waste.5
---------------
Look at that. Constitutional Obligation. He should have said, "Constitutional Obligation unless a Republican is in office".
Republicans endlessly investigated the Obama administration. Just Benghazi alone had 17 separate investigations.
We know Trump is guilty of at least a dozen felonies. And yet the GOP endlessly protect Trump.
Is this evidence of Party before Country?