Constitutional Government

**anonnymous** · 1st July 2010 11:49 AM

Should the government be allowed to suspend the constitution under any circumstance?

I think not. What say you?

**Dr.Knuckles** · 1st July 2010 12:11 PM

Does your Constitution have a reference in it to the federal government being able to suspend parts of it in national emergencies or whatnot?

Strangely enough, the authority to suspend or exempt something from the Constitution could only come from the Constitution. Usually they have National Emergency or Collapse of Law and Order Clauses that allow the government to do that.

Ours allows Provinces to exempt themselves from anything they don't like. Which makes the whole thing kind of a gentlemen's agreement, but I don't think the federal government has any authority to suspend it.

**anonnymous** · 1st July 2010 12:23 PM

The constitution does not allow the executive branch to suspend the said constitution but executive orders have been issued that grants the executive branch just that authority and a host of other repressive acts.

**Gypsy** · 1st July 2010 12:45 PM

No

**Morgan** · 1st July 2010 05:41 PM

Umm, how about no.

**Devil505** · 1st July 2010 05:49 PM

This is why I'm against legally considering the "War on Terrorism" a real war. Real wars trigger constitutional "War Powers" for a President that lets him/her suspend certain sections of the Constitution & that's dangerous as we saw with GW Bush.

**Gypsy** · 1st July 2010 06:43 PM

I don't trust any politician with that much power.

**Goldwater** · 1st July 2010 06:55 PM

I hit the wrong button...I meant no.

Who is proposing such a thing?

**Gypsy** · 1st July 2010 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by Goldwater

I hit the wrong button...I meant no.

Who is proposing such a thing?

Commie! JK

**Dr.Knuckles** · 1st July 2010 10:21 PM

Originally Posted by anonnymous

The constitution does not allow the executive branch to suspend the said constitution but executive orders have been issued that grants the executive branch just that authority and a host of other repressive acts.

Whats an executive order? Does or does not an executive order trump a Constitutional right?

(sorry to derail the thread with background questions)

It's hard to think of modern, realistic examples that would justify it, but that kind of exemption is there for a reason. We've all seen the hollywood movies of the 99% deadly disease that hits small town butthump Arkansas and the town is put under quarantine and there are soldiers and scientists in labs coats running around shoving everyone into trucks and taking them to secret buildings against their will. Thats actually what I would kind of expect to really happen in that situation.

If there is a gas leak in my house and I'm not home, the fire department is going to stop the threat regardless of my privacy and property rights. That's just normal everyday government authority. The same would be true on any level of government.

You cna say 'no I wouldn't support it', but your lack of support wouldn't stop it from happening and being perfectly legal.