The legal system in America is based on the simple ideas of fulfilling the promises made and obeying the rules. For centuries people were forced to submit to a king that they did not choose and knew that the king’s son would likely be just as bad as the current one was. Instead, the Founding Fathers of America developed a government with three co-equal branches and the ideal of government serving the people; not the people serving the government.
The Declaration of Independence set the tone and direction for individual freedom balanced with personal responsibility. This was followed with the more detailed structured requirements in the Constitution. I believe that all Americans are very capable of understanding these two fundamental documents without “professional” help. That is, they say what they mean and they mean what they say.
Immediately following the Preamble is found the one item held most important to the Founders and thus most important to us today. Article One, Section One of the Constitution is only one short sentence with volumes of application. It says, “All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives.” The first word is quite emphatic: “All.” Not “some” or “most” of the authority to make laws for America was assigned to the Congress but “All.” Thus, the Executive Branch has zero authority to make law. The Judicial Branch has zero authority to make law.
Logic, for those who are willing and able to apply it, acknowledges that no executive order is constitutional and thus null and void. This determination is not dependent on whether or not it is a “good” one or a “bad” one. Absolutely all executive orders are prohibited by the Constitution.
Similarly, no judge is authorized to create or alter or amend a valid law.
The application of and obedience to this little sentence in the Constitution would have revolutionary effects. Since most of the federal bureaucracy is working at making and/or enforcing “rules and regulations” not actually submitted to the Congress, these are bogus laws and those who are making bogus laws should be made to do something productive in the private sector instead.
This shrinks the government which greatly decreases government spending plus frees individuals and businesses from the libraries full of insane bureaucratic proclamations. To repeat: a manageable government that taxes less and allows more freedom. A glorious win, win, win opportunity!!
No new legislation is needed. What is required is only obeying the current, well-established law. Insist that this president and all future ones obey the Constitution after he has promised to “faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
Yes, I know that it has become a tradition for presidents and judges to make laws but this must stop immediately. It is in the interest of all Americans, whether conservative or liberal or independent, to demand that this tradition end now and forever.
Terry Gillham,
Moran, Kan.
Letters to the Editor – 2/21/17
