Preserve, Protect, and Defend?
This is a follow-up to an earlier post on the Bush Administration's expansionist views on federal power over the Constitution. JHR agreed that there seems to be a problem but wanted to know what the solution is. My response to him was we needed to vote for people who uphold the Constitution.
Before any person shall become President, he or she shall take the following oath:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will 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.
These 35 words, which are stipulated pursuant to the Constitution (Article II, Section 1), are the sum total of what the President is chartered to do. To preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. Nothing more. Nothing less. Congress has a similar oath that they too shall take.
I say people should observe how the President and elected representatives (regardless of political affiliation) act in relation to this solemn oath. If they are not following it, then others must be found who will. It's just that simple.
Comments
So, what is the written definition of what is necessary to "execute the Office of President of the United States" - in other words, the statement of duties? That word "and" obviously means that it includes but is more than "to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States".
If it's undefined, then it is basically unlimited - if the incumbent can get the people to go along, then it could mean "getting myself appointed Emperor by the Praetorian Guard - oops, sorry, Marines (and other Armed Forces that are theoretically only under my command after act of Congress)".
Posted by: Don Armstrong | March 25, 2006 09:28 AM
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the -- scrap-of-paper -- of the United States.
Posted by: sjon | March 30, 2006 08:57 PM