General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPossible remedy for the predicament we are in with the republican congress:
If "civil Officers" refers to the leaders of the
GOP in congress, McConnell and Ryan as well as others
who have stuffed their pockets and are vociferous in
support of Trump's actions, here is the remedy for that.
One question, who is there to impeach the leaders of the
Republicans in congress? Far as I can see, it doesn't say.
Article II Section 4 of the Constitution reads:
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers
of the United States, shall be removed from Office on
Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery,
or other High Crimes and Misdemeanors.
manor321
(3,344 posts)But only Congress can. The Executive and Judicial branches can't remove them from office.
EDIT: It is "expulsion" in this case:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expulsion_from_the_United_States_Congress
Iliyah
(25,111 posts)t-rump shrive for total control of the USA and the majority of congress is helping him along with Russia. If they had any, tiny love for their country they could stop it.
Orangepeel
(13,933 posts)Golden Raisin
(4,609 posts)What occurred in 2016 was not exactly encouraging, nor is the seeming lack of a concerted, organized plan to prevent any election manipulation for 2018.
CousinIT
(9,245 posts)& voter suppression are rendered impotent against us and we take at least the House if not the Senate -- THEN (and ONLY then) will there be oversight of this Trump sociopath.
Bizarre OP. You cant impeach members of Congress...And even if you could....how would it be a good idea...when you still need a 2/3 vote for conviction in the Senate? There is a process for expulsion in each house, where a member can be removed by a 2/3 vote, but again...why do you think such a vote is winnable...in the Congress led by Republicans?
You know...we have these things every two years called elections...thats how these things get resolved.
shraby
(21,946 posts)tritsofme
(17,379 posts)But thats not really the pertinent question...it is more I guess why you think a process requiring action from 2/3 of a chamber of Congress, that is led by Republicans, could result in the ouster of their leadership?
dalton99a
(81,513 posts)duforsure
(11,885 posts)To undermine Congress by trump , and make them powerless, he will have someone who'll find a way to completely bypass their powers to do anything. That's how he'll get his absolute powers. He already has their confidence, and soon they'll regret aligning with him. Con men are very good at doing this to others .
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,714 posts)Long ago that term was determined to refer to members of the executive branch and judges.
shraby
(21,946 posts)DownriverDem
(6,228 posts)CIVIL OFFICER. The constitution of the United States, art. 2, s. 4, provides, that the president, vice-president, and civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. By this term are included all officers of the United States who hold their appointments under the national government, whether their duties are executive or judicial, in the highest or the lowest departments; of the government, with the exception of officers of the army and navy.
Rawle on the Const. 213; 2 Story, Const. Sec. 790; a senator of the United States, it was decided, was not a civil officer, within the meaning of this clause in the constitution. Senate Journals, 10th January, 1799; 4 Tuck. Bl. Com. Appx. 57, 58; Rawle, Const. 213; Serg. on Const. Law, 376; Story, Const. Sec. 791.
A Law Dictionary, Adapted to the Constitution and Laws of the United States. By John Bouvier. Published 1856.
shraby
(21,946 posts)aggiesal
(8,915 posts)Democratic Senators and Representatives that took money from lobbyists,
then voted to benefit the interests of those the lobbyists represented.
ashredux
(2,606 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,714 posts)in accordance with the Speech or Debate Clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 6, Clause 1). The clause states that members of both houses of Congress "...shall in all Cases, except Treason, Felony and Breach of the Peace, be privileged from Arrest during their attendance at the Session of their Respective Houses, and in going to and from the same; and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place." What this means is so long as legislators are participating in legitimate legislative activity, they are immune from civil litigation or criminal prosecution, as well as from the burden of having to defend themselves. However, the acts must be an integral part of the processes by which congress members participate in proceedings relating to the passage of legislation or closely related matters.
However, plenty of congresscritters have been prosecuted for crimes like fraud, bribery, etc., because those acts were not committed as a part of a legitimate legislative process.