It seems everyone in America is aware of or anticipating this year’s State of the Union Address by President Donald Trump. That should come as no surprise after last year’s near 48 million TV viewers, topping the former president Barack Obama’s 31 plus million viewers each of the previous two years.
Of course, many Americans aren’t even waiting for the president to address us before they give their opinion.
Campus Reform published a video Monday featuring one of its reporters asking college students at New York University their thoughts on Trump’s remarks at the State of the Union Address even though it hadn’t even happened yet! Comments such as:
- “I didn’t watch it because I couldn’t bring myself to watch it.”
- “Quite racist, at the very least, if not up there with most racist.”
- “It’s something that I wouldn’t have expected to happen in, like, our lifetime.”
Perhaps one of the most shocking criticisms of the current President is that of Nancy Pelosi who has recently complained that Trump’s new plans are intended to “make America white again,” while conservatives strongly object to amnesty for people who came to the country illegally.
There are also multiple protests being organized against the President from celebrities, black caucus members and democrat lawmakers.
It appears to me that Americans are out of touch with the jurisdiction and powers of the Executive Branch. So, I would like to take the opportunity to discuss the president’s position and authority given by the United States Constitution.
Make no mistake, as the Chief Executive, the president does not run our country, nor is he the primary authority in our Constitutional Republic. The office of the president’s few and defined powers are written clearly and succinctly in Article Two of the United States Constitution. These powers include the duties to:
- Pardon offenses
- Be the Commander in Chief of Army and Navy, as well as state militias when called into federal service ONLY when a war has been officially declared by Congress
- Make treaties with the concurrence of 2/3 of Senators
- Nominate and appoint judges of the Supreme Court with the Advice and Consent of the Senate
- Give a traditional State of the Union address which has no legal force, but rather sets the tone for the country.
- Recommend, but not introduce, legislation to Congress
- Convene emergency sessions of Congress
- Receive foreign ambassadors
- Commission all federal officers
- Faithfully execute all laws of the United States made by Congress.
I am certainly grateful for the farsightedness of the Founders and how they delegated such little authoritative jurisdiction to the president while congruently placing the authority in the people’s representatives. Whether we agree with his words or not, Tuesday’s oration is still only that… words.
If individuals in America are truly concerned about their government, perhaps they should require more than just words from the branch of government with real power: Congress.
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