H. L. Menchen said, “Elections are nothing more than auctions for future stolen goods.” That maxim rings true when one looks at the promises that a particular candidate running for president of the United States has made. The candidate promises first-time homeowners a cool $25 grand. When this candidate wasn’t polling too high among Black men, the candidate promised Black men forgivable business loans and to make “recreational marijuana” legal so they could set up pot shops with the promised funds. It wasn’t too long ago that this same candidate sent several thousands of Black men to jail for smoking marijuana. The candidate’s latest promise is to increase the federal minimum wage to $15.
Her self-loathing running mate, who once apologized for his race, let Minneapolis burn while he and his wife enjoyed the smell of burning rubber, signed bills into law that allowed killing babies that survived an abortion and placing sanitary napkins in boy’s bathrooms, told people he was in combat when he wasn’t, and bugged out of his National Guard unit shortly before it was deployed, said that he wants to abolish the electoral college.
But what does that pesky U.S. Constitution- the one that all federal and state elected officials take an oath to defend- have to say about the powers and duties of a president and vice-president? To begin, Presidents have no power to give money to first-time homeowners and Black men or, for that matter, any men. Both the president and Congress have no constitutional authority to set minimum wages. And vice presidents have no authority to abolish the Electoral College. That has to be done by an amendment to the Constitution. While presidents and vice presidents have plenty of political clout, it is up to Congress and the states to amend the process.
The power and duties of the president and vice-president of the United States are spelled out in the U.S. Constitution. And being the leader of the free world or what is left of it isn’t one of them. Article 2 of the Constitution is where the powers and duties of the president are found.
Here they are:
1, Commander in Chief of the Army, and Navy and of the Militia of the several states when called into actual service…
2, Grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States except in the cases of impeachment.
3, Make treaties with the advice and consent of 2/3rds of the Senate present.
4, Nominate, and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the United States…
5,Fill vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session.
6, Give a state of the union address.
7,On extraordinary occasions, convene both houses or either of them.
8, Receive ambassadors and other public ministers.
9, Take care that the laws are faithfully executed.
And in Article 1, Section 7, a president must approve every order or vote passed by Congress. If disapproved (vetoed) it can be overturned by a 2/3rd vote of Congress.
The duties of a vice-president is to be the President of the Senate and vote if there is a tie (Article 1, Section 3.), and in the 25th Amendment Section 4, the vice-president, along with a majority of cabinet members, transmit to Congress that the President isn’t able to perform his duties. And, in Article 2, Section 2, Paragraph 5, assume the office of the President when the president is removed, dies or is, unable to discharge his duties.
Unfortunately, over the years, the executive branch has become an unconstitutional entity from issuing executive orders that have the force of law to its numerous alphabet soup departments that run roughshod over the states, issuing administrative laws with its own enforcement arms to sending our military all over the world to fight in undeclared wars to giving billions of dollars in foreign aids to friends and foes alike.
Let’s hope that on November 5, the majority of voters prove another maxim attributed to H.L. Mencken wrong: “Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”
Readers who would like a free pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution may request one from their member of Congress, Or they can request one from me. My E-mail is campconstitution1@gmail.com – but by doing so, they may be put on the Department of Justice’s watchlist.
