Something like this comes to my attention (in this case, pointed out by
tommx and multiple political blogs).
If this link weren't off the U.S. Congress site itself, I would surely have mistaken it for a cruel hoax! For non-Americans, this bill proposing "To allow Congress to reverse the judgments of the United States Supreme Court" would destroy the U.S. system of checks and balances. I'm not sure of the nuances, but AFAIK, the Congress can introduce more "fine tuned" legislation that might ultimately be challenged in the Supreme Court,, and thus, indirectly and over the course of time, affect the legality/reach of various laws. But they can't just up and tell the judiciary they're going to reverse their decisions!
My more cynical self gripes that the system of checks and balances is already breaking down - the Congress rolled over for the executive branch in giving Dubya rights to do whatever he wanted in Iraq, didn't it? At the same time, my logical mind recognizes (hopes?) that it is unlikely this bill will pass.
If this link weren't off the U.S. Congress site itself, I would surely have mistaken it for a cruel hoax! For non-Americans, this bill proposing "To allow Congress to reverse the judgments of the United States Supreme Court" would destroy the U.S. system of checks and balances. I'm not sure of the nuances, but AFAIK, the Congress can introduce more "fine tuned" legislation that might ultimately be challenged in the Supreme Court,, and thus, indirectly and over the course of time, affect the legality/reach of various laws. But they can't just up and tell the judiciary they're going to reverse their decisions!
My more cynical self gripes that the system of checks and balances is already breaking down - the Congress rolled over for the executive branch in giving Dubya rights to do whatever he wanted in Iraq, didn't it? At the same time, my logical mind recognizes (hopes?) that it is unlikely this bill will pass.
no subject
Date: 2004-03-17 07:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-17 12:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-03-17 04:05 pm (UTC)