If the Democrats can take the W.H. & the Senate in 2020, we need to make the income tax thing a law.

[Honeycombe8]

It needs to be a law of the land that anyone seeking the Presidency of the U.S. must produce federal and state tax returns for "x" number of years, for the most recent years.

If they don't, then they can't be placed on the ballot or something along those lines.

[mikeysnot]

1. you would think it is already a law here at DU

with all the pearl clutching and hand wringing regarding Bernie...

But I agree it should be law until then it is just partisan opinion that they have to be released.

[watoos]

2. Vegas odds of taking the Senate aren't good. We

We should pick up some seats tho.
Never know though, maybe we can overcome those rigged machines.

[Dave Starsky]

3. I believe there would have to be a Constitutional Amendment.

The ONLY requirements for being president in the Constitution are being 35 years old or older and being a born citizen. Any additional requirements would certainly be ruled unconstitutional.

I suppose you could approach it from the Elector perspective, since it's left to the states as to how they select those.

[unblock]

4. it would not require a constitutional amendment.

there are already requirements such as filing fees or a certain number of signatures to get on the ballot that aren't in the constitution.


that said, presidential elections are actually run at the state level, not at the federal level (states pick electors for the electoral college), so these laws need to be passed by state legislatures, not congress.

[brooklynite]

6. It would require a CA if you want to make it a matter of Federal law...

[unblock]

8. Well, yes.

Currently the constitution sets the requirements for being president, and the states set the requirement for being on the ballot.

If we wanted a federal ballot requirement, it would require a constitutional amendment. It would also be rather weird.

On the other hand, congress could, without a constitutional amendment, simply make public the tax returns if anyone on a ballot for president.

So, not a requirement to get on the ballot, but a consequence of opting to do so.

That would only require a change in the tax code.

[brooklynite]

5. You can't...

...because the Federal Government has no roll in Presidential Elections.

Article 2, Section 2: Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector.

[leftynyc]

7. It would have to be 50 different laws

covering each state. That's the way presidential elections are done - 50 separate elections and each state can make their own rules for them.