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View Full Version : A Constitutional Question for you all.




Chester Copperpot
03-05-2009, 08:33 PM
Each public officer takes an oath to support and defend the Constitution. That means congressmen, president, and supreme court justices.

Id like to hear your thoughts.

bill50
03-09-2009, 04:54 PM
The Constitution was not written to be interpreted. It means what it says.

GunnyFreedom
03-09-2009, 05:07 PM
The Constitution was not written to be interpreted. It means what it says.

This.

Athan
03-09-2009, 07:52 PM
"Interpretation"is what got us into this mess. They just need to do their fucking job and obey it. The government was never designed to be a tick bigger than the dog.

Original_Intent
03-09-2009, 07:54 PM
Um, almost all of them break their oath.

DamianTV
03-13-2009, 04:52 AM
Three branches of government were designed as a form of checks and balances against each other. But when the President starts WRITING laws, he has unbalanced the system. His job is to ENFORCE, not to create new laws. Congress writes the new laws. Judicial system is the only one allowed to INTERPRET the laws.

And the laws were never written (well, should have been) to be construed one way, interpreted in another, and implemented in yet another. Which leads us to where we are today.

What IS the definition of the word "IS"?

paulpwns
03-13-2009, 05:01 AM
Actually the constitution gives the supreme court the power to interpret the document.




Article III

Section 1. The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority;--to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;--to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and citizens of another state;--between citizens of different states;--between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.

Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted.

GunnyFreedom
03-13-2009, 05:16 AM
Actually the constitution gives the supreme court the power to interpret the document.




Article III

Section 1. The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.

Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority;--to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;--to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and citizens of another state;--between citizens of different states;--between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.

In all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make.

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any state, the trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.

Section 3. Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attainted.

Yes, that is absolutely true. The problem has been that all too often they take their charge to 'interpret' the Constitution to mean, "Justifying the ignorance thereof, through semantic ratbaggery."

For that reason, I agreed with Bill50: "The Constitution was not written to be interpreted. It means what it says." given the apparently modernized "interpretation = ratbaggery" stance.

However, given what 'interpretation' is supposed to mean, you are 100% correct.

Truth-Bringer
03-13-2009, 02:33 PM
Um, almost all of them break their oath.

If only we had a law mandating a life sentence with no parole for any politician who breaks his or her oath...