Hello America,
- Today, we're going to look into something that a lot of people (apparently a LOT of people) are not too entirely sure of regarding where bills and laws come from. If anyone remembers 'School House Rock' then they probably already know how...great little five minute musical cartoon back in the 70's, absolute pity it's no longer shown. Exceedingly educational those little cartoons were (with catchy tunes to boot)...ah well, where were we? Ah...Our President, that's where laws come from so we know who we need to blame regarding the current state of affairs WE'RE in - "It's Obama's Fault!".
- Yeah, okay...now we're going to focus on a place that I call 'reality' and actually discuss where laws REALLY come from, where they start and WHO is ultimately responsible for thier inception. It's a thing called:
Legislature, which is a type of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise taxes and adopt the budget and other money bills.
- The only thing that the President can do (or has any part of) legislation is to enact the power and VETO said law. However, once a bill (an unordained law) is enacted (which turns a bill into a law), the ONLY way to remove said law is to either have the Senate (who created the law in the first place) REPEAL it (which takes a 2/3rds majority vote...which is why it's REALLY good to get to know your Senators and Represetatives of State so THEY know how you feel regarding certain laws) or, if they law is clearly in violation of the Constitution, the Supreme Court can rule the law 'Unconstitutional' and strike the law from the statute books.
- Here is what needs done regarding the current laws that have been passed BY CONGRESS. Since these laws were not either understood or initially regarded as decent (though clearly, some laws now seem notoriously eroneous) is to CONTACT YOUR SENATOR and let them know what law YOU want to see REPEALLED. The importance of having laws repealled in Congress is a permenant way of insuring that law can never be created again via legislature (...and making Congressmen behave). If Congress cannot manage to attain 2/3rds vote to repeal does not mean it CANNOT be repealled, it's up to the citizenry to stay on top of the Senators with repeated requests to have the law repealled.
- Of course, when all else fails...there's always the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Justices. It would behoove those who consider this route to be COMPLETELY and THOUROUGHLY familiar with the Constitution of the United States before seeking to have a law struck down due to being 'Unconstitutional'. It will still be up to the 'Judiary Review' pertaining to what part (if not all) of the law needs struck from the books and it's is exceedingly rare that law do get put out of commission this way (as the law must clearly be in direct violation of the Constitution).
- So what to do about laws that you don't like, want or need? Contact your Congressman...let them know, as the public servants they are, that you want whatever law you don't like repealled. Send certified letter if need be (in all honesty, I advise it) and include what pertinent information you would best describe the reason why YOU don't want that law in effect. Congress is the sole source of the laws you currently see present in America today, the President only has the legislative power to 'veto' a law but ONLY before it gets enacted into law. Want to see 'National Health Care' or any other law? Let your Congressmen know...they are PUBLIC SERVANTS, and are beholden unto we, the PEOPLE, to do thier civic duty...or get voted out due to negligence (or impeached on the grounds of treason...whichever works).
The American Deist,
M.D. Little
Remember folks...,
ReplyDelete- Just because the President did not 'veto' a law DOESN'T dump the responsibility entirely upon him/her. Certainly, Our President probably should've known better...but I cannot hold anywhere near the grievance toward Our Commander and Chief (whose primary duty is Executive) then I do towards Congress (whose primary duty IS Legislative). Know who's ultimately responsible for the laws of this land and act accordingly, America.
The American Deist,
M.D. Little.