And so it begins…

  • Bonifratz@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    113
    ·
    11 days ago

    Luckily, the process of repealing or changing an amendment likely won’t change anytime soon, even with a Republican trifecta at the federal level, as it requires overwhelming public support. As outlined in Article 5 of the Constitution, any such change requires at least two-thirds of the Senate and the House to agree on the modification, with that change then requiring ratification by a minimum of three-quarters of states in the nation.

    I wouldn’t be so confident. If the majority decides to ignore it, then a constitution suddenly holds very little weight. Remember how the Roman Empire was once a Republic, until someone decided it wasn’t anymore? Remember how 1930s Germany was a democracy, until someone decided that had to end?

    Trump might argue some weird logic regarding the 22nd and 12th amendment. Or he might just declare a state of national emergency because of a new migrant caravan or some such shit, and postpone elections indefinitely. If he tries anything of the sort, it will all come down to whose side the military is on.

    • tehn00bi@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      47
      ·
      11 days ago

      What happens if they declare all democrats are enemies of the state and remove them from office and put their people in?

    • TheEighthDoctor@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      edit-2
      10 days ago

      Burn the senate building, arrest some democrat kid and say there is a deep state satanic conspiracy with the democrats to destroy the God Appointed Trump Presidency, throw fake news all over the place and call for another election and/or emergency bill that gives him unlimited power.

      What is that thing about story not repeating itself but rhyming?

    • peopleproblems@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      11 days ago

      Yeah, and that fuckwits name was Paul von Hindenburg in Germany.

      The fall of the Roman Republic was way more complex though wasn’t it? Like the Senate killed Ceaser and then voted to give his son unlimited tenure as Commander In Chief? There’s a lot to unpack there

      • Bonifratz@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        5
        ·
        11 days ago

        I didn’t mean “someone” this literally. In both cases, many people were directly involved or allowed things to happen by not intervening.

        My point was the more general one that a system of government only remains in place for as long as those who have the power want it to. (Whoever that may be: an elite, the people, the military, the clergy, some combination…) The US seems to be entering a phase where a big part of those in power wants to move from liberal democracy towards authoritarianism. If they turn out to have a stable majority and follow through with their plans, then the US Constitution won’t be worth more than the paper it was written on.

    • Dalvoron@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      11 days ago

      Can he just run as someone else’s VP and then the someone else abdicates or whatever? No messing with constitution required. Obviously requires a lot of trust though.

      • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        11 days ago

        No, the VP has to be eligible for the presidency. If for some reason they are not, then the presidency would roll to the speaker of the house.

          • Bytemeister@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            ·
            10 days ago

            Rules still apply until they are selectively removed or ignored or re-interperted by the Supreme Court of Sycophants later. But as it stands right now, those are the rules.