Galileo Galilei
09-03-2010, 03:18 PM
How Jackson's Veto of the Bank bill led to Big Government
Many people believe that Andrew Jackson's veto of the bank bill was a heroic act. But few understand how it lead to big government.
The Founding Fathers in the Constitution intended the veto to signify a decision that a bill was unconstitutional. Early presidents like Washington, Madison, and Monroe vetoed bills that were unconstitutional, setting important precedents. When a president vetoed a bill, that meant it was improper under the Constitution, and not to be attempted again. Early presidental vetoes had enormous prestige, and far out-shown 'opinions' by Supreme Court Judges.
Andrew Jackson was the first president to veto a bill for policy reasons. Although he claimed constitutional reasons, he also claimed policy reasons and it was widely believed by most people at the time that the veto was for policy reasons.
This is the problem that Jackson started. If vetoes can be for policy reasons, then they don't set a precedent. Jackson's veto threw out all the precedents set by the vetoes of Washington, Madison, and Monroe, and opened the door to big government. Jackson took the torch of liberty from Washington, Madison, and Monroe, and gave it to John Marshall.
Although presidents continued to claim constitutional reasons for vetoes throughout the 1800s, the damage was done, and they were also claiming policy reasons like Jackson did. Today, all presidential vetoes are done for policy reasons, and never for constitutional ones.
List of United States presidential vetoes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_vetoes
PS - Jefferson, John Adams, and JQ Adams never vetoed any bills.
Many people believe that Andrew Jackson's veto of the bank bill was a heroic act. But few understand how it lead to big government.
The Founding Fathers in the Constitution intended the veto to signify a decision that a bill was unconstitutional. Early presidents like Washington, Madison, and Monroe vetoed bills that were unconstitutional, setting important precedents. When a president vetoed a bill, that meant it was improper under the Constitution, and not to be attempted again. Early presidental vetoes had enormous prestige, and far out-shown 'opinions' by Supreme Court Judges.
Andrew Jackson was the first president to veto a bill for policy reasons. Although he claimed constitutional reasons, he also claimed policy reasons and it was widely believed by most people at the time that the veto was for policy reasons.
This is the problem that Jackson started. If vetoes can be for policy reasons, then they don't set a precedent. Jackson's veto threw out all the precedents set by the vetoes of Washington, Madison, and Monroe, and opened the door to big government. Jackson took the torch of liberty from Washington, Madison, and Monroe, and gave it to John Marshall.
Although presidents continued to claim constitutional reasons for vetoes throughout the 1800s, the damage was done, and they were also claiming policy reasons like Jackson did. Today, all presidential vetoes are done for policy reasons, and never for constitutional ones.
List of United States presidential vetoes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_presidential_vetoes
PS - Jefferson, John Adams, and JQ Adams never vetoed any bills.